By George Ernest Asare, Adankranja
THE youth of Adankranja Traditional Area in the Bekwai Constituency in the Ashanti Region have resolved to disassociate themselves from any action likely to inflame passions and cause violence in the traditional area.
They pointed out that violence in any form did not only destroy life and property, but also undermined sustainable socio-economic development, making it impossible for the youth who indulged in them to nurture their potential more fruitfully to support accelerated national development.
The youth made the resolution at a durbar organised at Adankranja last Tuesday to sensitise the public to the effects of violence and the measures that should be taken to prevent them.
Theme
The durbar, on the theme “Youth For Peace”, was organised by Youth Network for Human Rights and Democracy (YNHRD), a non-governmental organisation that seeks to promote peace and unity among the youth and sensitise them to develop their potentials to support meaningful development.
The German Development Services (DED) sponsored the programme.
Through various poetry recitals and drama enacted by pupils from basic and second-cycle institutions, as well as speeches by youth leaders in the Adankranja Traditional Area, the youth succeeded in stirring up emotions among politicians, chiefs, opinion leaders and security agents who had gathered at the durbar grounds.
Through the poems, drama and speeches, the youth identified chieftaincy and land disputes, as well as political intolerance and ethnic tensions, as some of the factors that trigger violence, leading to the destruction of life and property, thereby undermining quality societal development.
Lessons
It was also noticed through their sketches that violence in any form does not produce any victors, because those who claim to be victorious waste a lot of time in flexing their muscles. It also leads to the loss of property and dear ones and creates tension, thereby preventing entrepreneurs from investing in their communities, and perpetuates poverty.
Among the dignitaries who graced the occasion were the Paramount Chief of Adankranja Traditional Area, Nana Oppong Frenyam II, and his sub-chiefs, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Bekwai, Mr Joe Osei Owusu; the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Bekwai, Mr Noah Asante Manu; the acting Ashanti South Divisional Police Commander, Superintendent Felix Kwasi Cosmos, as well as some youth from Adankranja, Daa, Apaaso, Amoamo and Ahwiaa, which constitute the Adankranja Traditional Area.
Patriotism
In his address, Mr Francis Kyere, a youth leader, commended the youth in the traditional area for their sense of patriotism, stressing that their decision to disassociate themselves from any form of violence was a step in the right direction, because it would offer them the opportunity to develop their potentials in an atmosphere of peace and tranquillity.
He pointed out that in an attempt to promote their selfish interests, politicians, chiefs and opinion leaders mislead the youth to cause trouble.
Mr Kyere said the time had come for the youth in the country to develop their potential and the acquire requisite skills that would enable them to take their destinies into their own hands, instead of allowing themselves to be used as tools to perpetuate violence in their respective communities.
He commended the organisers for sensitising the youth to eschew violence and urged them to extend the programme to volatile areas to ensure sustainable peace in the country.
Collaboration
In his address, Superintendent Felix Kwasi Cosmos assured the people that the police would always collaborate with the public to promote peace.
He pointed out that peace in itself was very valuable and, therefore, there was the need for the youth not only to collaborate with the police to maintain peace, but report anybody who attempted to cause confusion in their communities.
Mr Kwasi Cosmos said since the youth were endowed with strength and vigour, they were always the target of interested groups who were eager to promote their selfish interests. He therefore advised them to use their strength to develop their talents to enable them support accelerated socio-economic development in their communities.
He also advised them to refrain from indulging in land and chieftaincy disputes. He said it was equally important for them to refrain from abusing the rights of individuals and tolerate the views of their political opponents to enable them co-exist peacefully with their neighbours.
The MP for Bekwai, Mr Joe Osei Owusu, for his part, advised them to focus on their academic programmes to enable them to acquire employable skills.
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