The president Nana Akufo-Addo has reiterated his call against political violence charging politicians to take great responsibility by setting the tone for civil political discourse in the country.

According to him, politics, like chieftaincy has regrettably become a harbinger of violence in the country and steps must be taken to stem the tide.

“Political violence is offensive and shames us all,” he said during the 62nd Independence Anniversary celebration held in Tamale, the capital of the Northern Region.

Historic celebration

For the first time in the country’s history, the Independence Anniversary celebration was shifted from the capital, Accra to another region as a token of appreciation to the chiefs and people of the Northern Region for allowing peace to prevail in Dagbon which for decades was a den of chieftaincy violence.

The theme of the 62nd Independence Anniversary is “celebrating peace and unity” to underline the unity that has enveloped Yendi and its environs.

The president was particularly impressed that the entire state machinery and all who matter in Ghana’s political system was present to support this historic occasion.

Politics and violence

Chronicling the political history of the country, the president said at one time in history competitive politics was given a bad name- “divisive, antagonistic and corrupt” and formed a basis for needless military interventions.

“It took a long time for a consensus to be reached that multiparty democracy is the best way,” he stated.

In multiparty there will feisty debates, arguments including raised voices but “there must be mutual respect.”

“There should be no room for violence,” he noted, adding, multiparty democracy must be a contest of ideas, the success of which is measured by the number of young people who get the opportunity to go to school and not the number of young people who get their bones broken as a result of political violence.

He reiterated his commitment to lead a dialogue between the two major parties for lasting peace as well as initiate legislation to put an end to political vigilantism in the country.

The president also regretted the spate of chieftaincy related violence in the country and charged the Chieftaincy Minister to devise a means of solving the many chieftaincy related conflicts across the country.

“When it works it is the embodiment of culture in the country,” he said.

The president also called on the police to be professional in their duties in order to engender trust among the people.

The anniversary was attended by the president of Niger, Mahamadou Issoufou and several other diginitories including ex-presidents John Rawlings and John Mahama