Chiefs, NDC, NPP spokespersons in UE advocate peace

Chiefs, NDC, NPP spokespersons in UE advocate peace Story: Benjamin Xornam Glover, BOLGATANGA Some traditional rulers and representatives of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Upper East Region have appealed to Ghanaians in general and resident of ye region in particular to accept the Supreme Court verdict on the election petition in good faith. The President of the Regional House of Chiefs and Paramount Chief of the Sakote Traditional Area, Naba Sigri Bewong, his Vice, Pe Aditundi Anidu Ayagitam III, the leaders of the communications teams of the NDC and NPP in the region separate interviews, urged Ghanaians to be calm before and after the verdict and refrain actions and utterances that could lead to violence and undermine peace and development. The President of the Regional House of Chiefs and Paramount Chief of the Sakote Traditional Area, Naba Sigri Bewong, said Ghana is more important than any existing political party that and peace is very paramount, hence the need for all to respect the outcome of the petition "I expect everyone especially the youth not to resort to any act of violence. Let us all respect the rule of law and abide by whichever verdict the justices of the Supreme Court will come out with" The Vice President of the Regional House of Chiefs, who is also the Paramount Chief of Chiana, Pe Aditundi Anidu Ayagitam III also said Ghana has for a long time enjoyed peace and that Ghana has for many years enjoyed praises from the international community and that it will be very sad if the nation should lose all the praises being showered on her as a very peaceful country. Pe Ayagitam III said as the entire nation await the final verdict, it was incumbent for every Ghanaian to put the interest of the country first and preserve the unity and peace prevailing. "We should all understand that peace is the only thing to help us advance and match up to the other developed countries," he added. He called on the youth of the region as well as supporters of both the petitioners and respondents to remain peaceful even after the verdict is pronounced. For his part, the leader of the Communication Team of the National Democratic Congress in the Upper East Region, Mr Amos Awinzor said as a leader, he seizes every opportunity that comes his way to advice supporters of the party in the region to plead with them on the need to keep the peace. "We need peace more than anything to govern. So if we do anything to hurt the system, we we not be able to achieve our aim," he said Mr Awinzor said apart from that, at the end of the day, elections and its aftermath issues should not be a matter of breaking heads adding that election is a contest and that power belong to the people and at any point in time if the people say you have the power, you have it. If they say you don't have it, you don't have it and as political parties and supporters, we have to understand that principle. Mr Awinzor said much as he believes that the NDC have made a good case against the petitioners and knowing very well that they have advanced their arguments very well, the party still leave the outcome to the wisdom of the justices of the Supreme Court. "Whichever way they deemed it fit, we should all accept and support the victor to build the nation," he said adding that if the case should go their way, they will be happy and celebrate accordingly. He however called for moderation and modesty, stressing that at not point should the celebrants taunt the losers. "We should all be tolerant and note that election defeats should not be the end of the world. We need peace more than never before in order to advance the development of the nation" Mr Bashiru Ibrahim, leader of the New Patriotic Party Communication Team in the region said following from the position of the flag bearer of the NPP, Nana Akufo-Addo who has been very emphatic on the need to go to court because he has so much respect for the institutions of state, all supporters of the party in the region have been admonished to get themselves prepared to accept the outcome of the petition. "After all, Ghana is the only country we have. In line with the conviction of our leader, and also the fact our party has come out with a guidelines, a number of sensitization programmes have been held to guide all those who speak for the party to avoid making judgmental comments and also be civil" He said the leadership of the party in the region together with the communication team have taken a decision to educate supporters of the party to accept the outcome of the case, irrespective of which way it goes. "Once we did not choose to hit the streets in protest at the beginning of the case, we cannot go to the streets now that the case has gone through the judicial process. Should that happen we would have been seen to be undermining the powers and confidence we have in the courts'" Mr Ibrahim added. -End- Benjamin.glover@graphic.com.gh Twitter | @glovben 30 Secs read -The Supreme Court hearing election petition will next sit on Wednesday, August 14, 2014 to seek further clarifications on the written and oral addresses submitted by lawyers of the petitioners and respondents - 15 days thereafter,the Justices of the Supreme Court will pronounce judgment - Various bodies have all advocated the need for Ghanaians to embrace the verdict and not resort to violence