17 November 2008
Vice President Alhaji Aliu Mahama has asked Ghanaians to erase the impression that the country is on the verge of imploding, anytime there is an impeding presidential and parliamentary elections.
"After the December 7 elections life will still go on. Children will continue to go to school, market women will still go to the market and sell their wares, workers will go to their various places of work and this beloved country of ours will still be Ghana, the beacon of hope for Africa", he said.
Alhaji Mahama was speaking at a ceremony in Accra, during which he supervised the destruction of a number of illicit weapons. The event was organized by the Ghana National Commission on Small Arms and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Elections, he noted, are just a civilised way of selecting people to govern. "We may have our disagreements on the choices we make, but that should not stop us from our commitment to come together to develop mother Ghana", he said.
Alhaji Mahama said Ghana had worked very hard over the years to consolidate the democratic process and appealed to the citizenry especially the youth to resist any influence of being used to cause violence, before, during and after the elections.
He said the proliferation of small arms and light weapons is a threat to peace, development and stability. "This weapons destruction ceremony is to symbolise our commitment and determination not to use weapons to perpetuate violence and conflicts, especially in the upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections", Alhaji Aliu Mahama advised.
Nana Obiri Boahen, Minister of State at the Ministry of Interior, called on Ghanaians to use dialogue as the means of resolving conflicts, since the recourse to arms would run the country down.
He said people harbouring small arms should be reported to the security agencies.
Mr. Dauoda Toure, UNDP Resident Representative expressed the need for the State to give alternative livelihoods to people dealing in small arms to encourage them to give up the trade.
Alhaji Gado Mohammed, of the office of the Chief Imam cautioned the youth to shun violence, stressing that their future is at stake if they allow themselves to be influenced to be agents of trouble.
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