Don’t use zongo communities as amoury – Politicians told

Zongo communities have been urged to resist attempts by politicians to look up to them as “amoury reserves” to foment trouble in the 2012 general elections.

Sheikh Abdul Barki Sawla, an adviser to the Islamic Council for Development and Humanitarian Services (ICODEHS), who made the appeal, said politicians had been taking advantage of the illiteracy, poverty and deprivation levels of the people in the Zongo communities and had been influencing them with money to cause trouble and turn round to call them trouble makers.

Sheikh Sawla was speaking at Niator in the Sissala West District on Sunday during the inauguration of a GH¢60,000 mosque constructed for Moslems in the community by ICODEHS.

He said after those politicians had achieved their selfish motives; they turned to abuse the people and called them all sort of names as if conflicts were the only trademark for those living in Zongo communities.

Sheikh Sawla appealed to  political parties and their leaders. as well as their activists and supporters. to avoid acts that were likely to create confusion in the 2012 elections, saying: “Let the politicians know that this is the only country we have and let no one person or a group of persons plunge it into chaos because of self interest”.

Kuoro Barecheh Nlowie Baninye II, Acting President of the Buwa Traditional Council, said as Ghanaians move towards elections in December, there was the need for tolerance.

He said all must be prepared to accept the results of the elections in good fate so that other countries could learn from Ghana’s shining example.

Kuoro Barecheh Nlowie Baninye called on all stakeholders, including chiefs, imams, pastors and politicians to start preaching peace now so that election 2012 would be conducted peacefully.

“Sometimes in our quest or struggle for justice and peace, we end up promoting new forms of injustice and violence. Let dialogue prevail in all we do. As people with keen interest in peace building, we are challenged not to put emphasis on only justice but also the truth and the fear of Allah in us”, Kuoro Baninye said.

Source: GNA