The Deputy Northern Regional Minister, Mr John Jabaah Benam, has advised Ghanaian youth not to allow themselves to be used by politicians to foment trouble during the 2020 general election.

He reminded them that Ghana was the only country we could all call home and be proud of, so they should not engage in any unlawful act that would disturb the peace currently being enjoyed.

"May I take this opportunity to advise politicians, especially the youth that we have only one country and that is the only country we have, we have no other country than Ghana; so during the 2020 elections let’s think of Ghana first,” he said.

Visit

Mr Benam was speaking during a visit by members of the Queenmothers Foundation Ghana, a subsidiary of the Queenmothers Association, who were on a working visit to the region.

Led by their National President, Nana Ama Serwaa Bonsu, the Queenmother for Offinso Kyeraa in the Ashanti Region, the queenmothers, dressed in colourful traditional attires, received a rousing welcome to the region.

Peace and stability

The deputy minister observed that during elections, politicians had the propensity to use the youth to perpetrate and incite violence, a situation which he said was a threat to national elections and democracy in general.

He said instead of allowing themselves to be used for electoral violence, the youth must rather channel that energy into ventures that would help in their personal development and the development of the country.

Also, he said the perception that the Northern Region was prone to violence was false, adding that the “negative impressions you get especially on social media about the region is a thing of the past".

For her part, Nana Ama Serwaa Bonsu said the foundation was an arm of the Queenmothers Association, and their visit formed part of efforts by the foundation to promote peace and stability in the country.

She called on the youth not to engage in activities that would create violence before, during and after the elections.