All political parties in the Northern Region on Thursday March 12, 2015 jointly condemned the politics of bigotry which is fast gaining notoriety in the nation’s political arena.
This was done through a non- violent demonstration on the principal streets of Tamale organized by the Forum for Accountable Leadership.
The demonstrators raked through some designated roads in the Tamale Metro Area including Sakasaka, Agric, Choggu and Aboabo amidst drumming and dancing.
Members of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) led by the regional youth Organizer, Alhaji Rashid Cop, the governing National Democratic Congress led by the regional communications Director, Abdul Mumin Alhassan Fuseini , the Peoples National Convention (PNC) led by Seidu Napodoo among others participated in the protest under police escort.
They held placards some of which read, “One nation: One people, we are all equal, equal rights for all, unity in diversity and stop the tribal politics.”
Spokesperson for the Forum for Accountable Leadership, Saani Mohammed Lukman said the demonstration was justifiable in the wake of ethnocentric comments by some politicians which inundated the airwaves.
He thanked the participants for approaching the demonstration on a bipartisan base.
He advocated the need to deepen political tolerance by eliminating tribal politics.
Mohammed Lukman hinted of several protests and public fora to promote national cohesion.
This, according to him will save the nation from anarchy ahead of the 2016 general elections.
Two of the protesters, Hajia Humu Suleim noted with deep concern that women and children suffered the most during political upheavals, hence majority of the women’s decision to join the demonstration.
She called for civility on the airwaves and on political party platforms to zealously safeguard the nation’s peace and unity.
Hajia Humu pleaded with the clergy, opinion leaders and traditional rulers to join the fight against tribal politics.
Seidu Napodoo praised organizers of the demonstration for their foresight.
He warned that tribal politics had the tendency of plunging the nation into chaos.
Seidu Napodoo passionately appealed to the youth to refrain from political vendetta on tribal lines.
Members of the Savannah Women’s Empowerment Group Ghana (SWEGG) called of their demonstration against the cancellation of the district assembly elections which was scheduled for the same day.
The Northern Regional Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Ebenezer Tetteh told Citi News both groups were given the clearance to demonstrate on the same day.
But leadership of SWEGG wisely postponed theirs for another day.
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By: Abdul Karim Naatogmah/citifmonline.com/Ghana