NPP Snubs Peace Overtures by IEA But…

It is indubitable that peace is a necessary precondition for development and prosperity. Without a peaceful and stable environment, development is out of the question for any country. A chaotic world benefits no-one! It is therefore mind-boggling to hear that the New Patriotic Party (NPP), is snubbing peace efforts by the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA). Reports say the NPP has refused to append its signature to a document proposing peace at a Media Review Workshop organized by the IEA. All the major political parties have committed to this peace initiative, but the NPP, PEACEFM is reliably informed, has set conditions before making any such commitment. Reached for his comments, the General Secretary of the NPP, Nana Ohene Ntow, confirmed the report as true. His reason is that, similar documents signed in the past have been largely unproductive, pointing out that “it is easy to differentiate commitment by word of mouth and commitment in deed.” According to him, prior to the 2008 General Elections, all the political parties met in Aburi, to deliberate on the need for peace, at the end of which, they all appended their signatures to electoral peace as contained in the Political Parties Code of Conduct. Quoting from the Ghana Political Parties Code of Conduct which renounced violence, the NPP Chief Scribe said, recorded scenes of violence in Volta Region, Akwatia and Agbogbloshie, where NPP activists were at the receiving end of brutalities, indicates that the other parties are not really ready for peace. He stressed that until the NPP sees the zeal of the other parties, most especially the NDC, in committing to peace, it will not be a signatory to any more peace overtures. “If it’s true that the other parties are really committed to peace, it will be reflected in their conduct at Chereponi… Let’s go to Chereponi and if there is no reported violence, then we will commit to this new peace document by signing it…The way forward is not in signing any new documents but in honoring previously signed documents touching on the need for peace. If the NDC conducts itself well in Chereponi and behaves not like they did in Akwatia, if they do that, then signing this document will make sense,” he said. Source: Kwadwo Asante/Peacefmonline