Run-up to elections: Asantehene advises parties to avoid violence

The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has appealed to all political parties and their supporters to avoid violence in all its forms in the run-up to the December 7, 2020 elections.

He tasked them to be tolerant of divergent views, stressing that the nation needed peace and unity to enhance political stability and sustainable socio-economic growth.

“It is God who chooses who becomes the President,” the Asantehene stated, and asked the contesting political parties to always conduct their activities in a peaceful mood.

Courtesy call

He made the appeal when the flag bearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr John Dramani Mahama, and his running mate, Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, paid a courtesy call on him at the Manhyia Palace, Kumasi last Wednesday.

The visit was to officially introduce the two NDC leaders to the king and also ask for his spiritual support as the largest opposition party seeks to regain power in the impending presidential and parliamentary elections.

Contest of ideas

Otumfuo Osei Tutu stated that politics was a contest of ideas and development.

He, therefore, advised politicians to tell Ghanaians what they intended doing to transform their lives for the better, as they solicited for votes ahead of the December general election.

That, he said, required that political parties explain their manifestos and development agenda to the people to help Ghanaians to make informed decisions in the choice of their leaders.

Otumfuo Osei Tutu lauded Prof. Opoku-Agyemang for emerging as the running mate to the NDC flag bearer.

He advised her to endeavour to bring her expertise to bear on the activities of the party as it sought to regain power.

NDC agenda

Former President Mahama said the party would not disappoint Ghanaians if given the mandate, outlining various development projects and programmes that the NDC had in store for the nation.

“Our vision is to alleviate the plight of Ghanaians through a well-structured economy that provides jobs and security for the people,” he stated.

Citing the NDC’s agenda, which aimed at injecting into the economy $10 billion, the former President said the plan had been designed to drive job creation, entrepreneurial and infrastructural growth.

Former President Mahama emphasised that under the package, a number of road networks would see significant improvement such as the Accra-Cape Coast, Accra-Aflao and the Eastern Corridor roads, with plans to also reshape cocoa roads across the country.

Prof. Opoku-Agyemang was grateful to the Asantehene for granting the two leaders audience, saying the NDC stood for peace and development.