Youths should desist from negative acts- NGO appeals

The Youth for Democratic Action (YDA), a non political youth organisation in Kumasi, has appealed to political parties to desist from negative acts that could disrupt the electoral process and plunge the country into chaos.  It said the political party leaders must know that any negative comments made during their campaigns could 'spark off flames which could agitate their followers' to act illegitimately.  In a statement signed by Mr Anderson Boako Gideon, National Co-ordinator and issued in Kumasi on Wednesday, the YDA also called on political parties to desist from making comments that discredited the police, Electoral Commission and all stakeholders in the electoral process.  It expressed concern about a comment said to have been made by Dr Vladimir Antwi Danso, a Research Fellow at the Legon Centre for International Affairs to the effect that, the military should take over the affairs of the nation, should there be an eruption of violence after the December elections.  The YDA pointed out that military takeover would not only be in contravention with the democratic ethos of the country, but could also mar the peace Ghanaians were enjoying in the country.  It appealed to Christian Council of Ghana, Islamic and Muslim Mission and traditional leaders not only to advice politicians but, also call them to order since any negative utterances could be a recipe for chaos and polarization of the nation.  The statement said the YDA was building the capacities of the youth to shun all manner of people who inhibited traits of mischief openly or covertly.  It called on the Ghanaian youth who were the future leaders to stand firm and fight to ensure the sustainability of democracy in the country. GNA