Upper West NYA warns youth against tribal and partisan politics

GNA – The National Youth Authority (NYA) in Upper West Region has climaxed its ninth edition of Mentors and Achievers Awards at Jirapa with a call on Ghanaian youth to eschew tribal and partisan politics as they retard development.

The Awards ceremony was organised on the theme: “Building society by appreciating the roles played by our leaders,” and aimed to appreciate mentors and achievers who have inspired and contributed to the development process of Upper West.

The Regional Executive Director of NYA, Mr Mumuni Sulemana, cautioned young men and women against meddling in growing partisan and tribal politics which posed the danger of polarising the Ghanaian society.

He noted that most people were overly partisan and political in nature to the extent that when someone was working towards a particular good course, others might be bent on trying to distract the person using tribal and political affiliations.

He appealed to the rank and file of inhabitants in the Region, especially the youth, to bury their tribal and political differences and rather focus on building a united front for speedy development.

Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia in a speech read on his behalf by Mr Sahanun Mogtari, a Former Ghana Ambassador to Burkina Faso entreated the youth to “strike” harder for success and be responsible citizens.

“When you are chasing a rabbit, do not stop by the road side to respond to greetings,” he said, and interpreted it to mean that young people should continue working hard towards progress until they achieved greater success.

The youth were also advised to venture into agriculture and see it as a business, in the region full of fertile lands for farming, and stop looking up to politicians for petty assistance.

Mr Mogtari refuted the popular notion that farming was for poor people, and said he won the Upper West Regional Best Farmer in 1990, making a huge success in the field.

The Jirapa Municipal Chief Executive, Madam Christine Bonbanye Amadu urged the youth to desist from social vices and the use of illicit drugs like tramadol and pledged the support of the Jirapa Municipal Assembly to assist any youth policy geared towards development with the necessary financial backing.

Several people who have mentored others in various capacities and others who have been graded as having achieved greatly in life were recognised with different awards to serve as inspiration to the youth.

GNA