Frequent Shooting Incidents in Tamale

Northern students condemn stockpiling of arms

THE NORTHERN Students Union (NSU) has condemned, in no uncertain terms, the frequent shooting incidents in the northern part of Ghana particularly in the Tamale Metropolis of late.

The Union expressed regret that the youth had resorted to arms at the least provocation, which practice it described as most "uncultured, obsolete and primitive behaviour" and said to be perpetrated by the odd elements of society at a time the people needed peaceful minds to make valuable and sound judgment regarding those to whom the destiny of the country would be entrusted in the next four years.

The students reminded the people in the area that guns never solved any problem and they should be the last people to resort to arms, having experienced the savagery of the gun in recent times.

In a statement jointly signed by the national President and Secretary, Messrs Issifu Salisu Be-Awuribe and Ayuure Amos respectively made available to the media, further reminded the people of the fact that politicians and political parties would come and go but the North (Northern territory) would forever remain.

The statement cited the recent shooting incident in Tamale at a political rally, the fourth in recent times, as a testimony to the rumours that people were stockpiling arms in preparation for any eventful attack at the least provocation on election day and thereabouts.

The students' union therefore called on the brains behind these criminals to put a stop to it and let lasting peace prevail in the North before, during and after the elections since the North should not be sacrificed on the altar of political adventurism.

While commending the security agencies for maintaining peace in the area, the students also urged them not to relent in their efforts at searching for illicit weapons in all violent-prone areas on a sustainable basis. They also commended the efforts of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), The Center for Democracy and Development (CDD) and other civil society groups working to ensure violent free elections in selected parts of the North.

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The union further called on members of the public with credible information that could lead to the arrest and subsequent prosecution of the culprits, their financiers and accomplices to volunteer such information to the security agencies who must ensure that justice is not only done but must also be seen to be done without regard to creed, tribe, family or political affiliation.

The students called also on every registered voter in the North to defy all threats and come in their numbers on the voting day to exercise their franchise in accordance with the electoral laws put in place by the Electoral Commission, in line with the laws of the land.