The National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress(NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketiah has charged the National Peace Council to be proactive and act according to its name.
Addressing both party supporters and the rank and file of NDC at its 2024 Campaign Launch at Tamale on Saturday, he said the Peace Council was not established to appeal to the emotions of people who have been wronged or oppressed nor have they been set up to guarantee the peace of the oppressor.
He said rather, the Peace Council is required to speak the truth at all times.’
“We established you to speak the truth. Tell whoever is not conducting himself well and whoever is moving on a dangerous path to create problems for this nation. So, if you are interested in peace and you want to act according to your name, please be proactive. When you see the early warning signs. Don’t wait for anybody to wake you from your slumber. Stand up. Speak out. And be counted by posterity.”
To ensure continuous peace before, during, and after the December, 7 elections, Mr. Asiedu Nketiah also called on the Council of State to stand up and discharge its responsibilities, stressing that the nation is in crisis.
Noting that the Council of State was put in place to advise and not to bootleg the President, he indicated that the time has come for them to justify the reason for their existence.
Asiedu Nketiah reiterated that either the council does its work now or has itself to blame five months from today.
“We are beginning the contest for power today. You have been established as the institution responsible for advising the President of the Republic of Ghana…Please stand up and be counted. Do your duty.”
In addition to the National Peace Council and the Council of State, Mr. Asiedu Nketiah urged the chiefs to avoid involving themselves in partisan politics because it would destroy the institution of chieftaincy and the traditional authorities.
To him, the framers of the 1992 constitution of Ghana did not insulate the institution of the traditional councils from multi-party politics for no reason.
That, he revealed was done to avert situations where the institution will not be destroyed.
“If you allow politicians to meddle with our holy institutions like the traditional councils you will end up with a situation where the institution will be destroyed. Please. You have a role to play beyond appealing to us for peace. Stand firm and neutral in this context. So that if there is a problem and you invite us to adjudicate, we will all trust you and come before you and listen to your advice,” he said.
The national chairman of the NDC noted that failure to do this will cause politicians to meddle in the affairs of chieftaincy, saying that is why the constitution was framed to prevent chiefs from engaging in multi-party or partisan politics.
“You are our last hope. Stay clean so that you can protect our democracy.” He stressed.
Read also: NDC Campaign Launch: NDC Demands Akufo-Addo’s Commitment to Peaceful Handover
Source: Eric Sekyi/ATLFMNEWS
