Kumasi — The National Chief Imam, Sheikh Usman Nuhu Sharabutu, has emphasised the need for politicians and leaders of the various political parties to desist from acts and statements that create unnecessary tension and anxiety in the run up to the elections.

According to him, since the country has chosen the path of democracy by agreeing to elect our governments through the ballot box, there was the need for us to show to the rest of the world that we are in control of our own affairs and that our conduct would give a full picture of what Ghanaians could accomplish for themselves in terms of peace and stability, and our claim of being the ambassador of African excellence.

The National Chief Imam, who made this statement in a speech read on his behalf at the 2nd International Conference for Tijaniya Muslim Movement in Kumasi, noted that the conduct of violence-free elections the world over, comes with its own price, the most important of which include the commitment to peace and fairness on the part of all stakeholders involved in the electioneering process.

The conference, which brought together leaders and representatives of the Tijaniya Muslim Movements across Africa, was under the theme "Unity, Peace, Development and Violence Free Election", the role of the Tijaniya Movement. He said, it was very important for leaders of the various parties to educate themselves and their supporters that this year's election was not a matter of do or die affair, but rather a democratic test which we must all pass.

"The strive for violence-free election is the choice we shall make as a nation, whether to sustain our quest for economic freedom in a society devoid of threats and intimidations, or join the bandwagon of other sister countries who have seen their countries plunged into total anarchy as a result of parochial interest of politicians." He observed.

Sheikh Sharabutu further observed that in government's effort towards solving the high level of poverty in our country and building a better Ghana, politicians should not only condition the minds of electorate with vain promises and vague slogans but should endeavour to inculcate financial discipline and proper planning as a major tool that would complement the government's effort in building better life for the individual.

The national chief Imam further decried the phenomenon where the youth in the Zongo communities are often used by politicians to perpetuate their diabolical agenda during election periods, adding that such practices must be condemned and treated with the contempt they deserve.

He therefore urged the various political parties to abide by the political party's code of conduct, which was recently launched in the conduct of their campaign and further appealed to Chiefs in the country to assume their role as symbol of unity to the people and make extra efforts to resolve all chieftaincy disputes before the crucial elections.

On his part, the Executive Secretary of the Tijaniya Movement, Ustaz Ahmed Seidu, noted that over the years the Movement had taken a second look at its core activities and had discovered a volume of message that indicate the need for not only emphasising the abstruse meanings of Islam alone, but also the need to teach both Arabic and the secular educational system in Islamic schools.

He said, in view of that the movement had purchased 26.50 acres of land at Asokore in the Sekyere East district of Ashanti for the sole purpose of building a GH¢600,000 state- of- the-art Senior High School, the first phase of the project had been completed through the contributions of the members of the movement.

The Minister for Works, Housing and Water Resources, Hon. Boniface Abubakar Siddique, who represented the vice President, His Excellency Alhaji Aliu Mahama, asked Muslim leaders to pray fervently for peace, unity and violent-free elections.

He noted that as the beacon of hope and bastion of democracy, Ghana was under the microscopic eye of Africa and the rest of the world in terms of upholding the principles of democracy and as such we could not afford to disappoint them. Hon. Boniface therefore asked religious leaders to lead the crusade in the fight against any form of negative tendencies that could jeopardise the peace of this country.