Youth group launches campaign against violence

Accra, Jan. 30, GNA - An anti-violence campaign aimed at safeguarding the peace and stability of the country before, during and after the 2016 general election, has been launched in Accra.

Dubbed: 'Campaign Against Politically Motivated Violence,' it also seeks to resolve tension anxieties as well as promote a sense of nationalism among the youth, politicians, political parties and the citizenry as a whole, Mr Michael Kwabena Ampong, Executive Director, National Youth Leaders Forum (NYLF), initiators of the campaign stated in Accra.

He said the formation of the campaign would be a platform that would bring all political parties together for informed decisions to be made for the peace of the country to continue to prevail.

Mr Ampong said it is the ultimate aim of NYLF to mobilise the youth of the country, concientise them on the interest of the country as the nation's interest is parochial than any party interest.

'We the youth are a lot a in the country and our issues are important as we are the country's resource, hence we are leading the campaign,' he said.

The Executive Director of the NYLF urged the youth to rise for the country and not any political party.

He also appealed to politicians not to let ethnocentric politics, politics of hatred and insult, politics of intolerance for dissenting views, politics of world and unfounded allegations mar the upcoming elections.

'Preaching of tolerance, demonstrating with character and living in togetherness is what we seek from our politicians,' he said.

Mr Kwasi Pratt, Editor in-Chief, Insight Newspaper, said vindictiveness, insults and abuses are the reasons of violence in the country.

'How politicians conduct themselves shows they have no respect for citizens,' he said.

Mr Pratt urged to politicians to talk about politics of issues and development as these are the pressing need of Ghana.

He lauded NYLF for a campaign that is going to educate the youth against violence and rather promote peace in the country.

'I salute NYLF for a discussion that will move the country forward,' he said.

Other speakers advised politicians to do away with abusive languages that hinder the peace of the country.

NYLF is a youth advocacy, research and think tank group that was registered in 2015.

GNA