Election is not war – Kufuor

Former President John Agyekum Kufuor has reminded Ghanaians that politics is not a do-or-die affair but a means for the electorate to express their divergent views towards the transformation of the country.

“Election is not war,” the former President asserted, adding that it was an exercise for the electorate to choose their leaders and express their views without any fear or favour.

Former President Kufuor was speaking at a durbar of the chiefs and people of the Suma Traditional Area in the Jaman North District in the Brong Ahafo Region to climax their Akwantu Kese Festival.

Festival Objective

The festival, which was on the theme: “Culture, education and development”, was instituted last year to commemorate the journey of the Suma and the Gyaman people from Akwamu.

The prime objective of the festival is to preserve and promote the germane culture and traditions of the Gyaman people and also promote education and development.

Former President Kufuor said there should be no cheating in any elections and expressed optimism that the 2016 elections would be free, fair and transparent for their final outcome to be accepted by all.

That way, he stated, the people would come together for the development of the country.

Mr Kufuor expressed the hope that the country would see significant progress in the next 10 years if the country enjoyed the present democratic dispensation.
Peace

The General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Johnson Asiedu Nketia, who represented President John Mahama, stressed the need for peace and the avoidance of any chaotic situation in the country during this year’s elections.

He was optimistic that peace would prevail for the conduct of peaceful elections in the country this year.

Mr Asiedu Nketia urged the chiefs not to involve themselves in chieftaincy disputes to enable them to bring the people together for the needed development.

Cashew

On the decision to ban the export of cashew nuts, he stated categorically that it was not from the government.

He advised cashew farmers to think about the establishment of a cashew board to regulate the industry.

Omanhene

The Omanhene of the Suma Traditional Area, Odeneho Dr Afram Brempong, said education was very crucial to the development of every community.

He said it was the reason he was championing the establishment of the Suma Ahenkro campus of the University of Energy and Natural Resources.

He said the traditional council would set up an Adinkra Village for the promotion of culture and tradition in the area.