Zongo chiefs and politicians have been asked to take practical steps and give credible info to the police to help maintain peace in Ghana before, during, and after the December elections.

Imam of the Ghana Police Service Supt. Hussein Abdur Rahim Hussein said this when he spoke at the commissioning of the Dr. Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharubutu sports complex at Fadama here in Accra.

Speaking on behalf of the Inspector General of Police, he said, “We’d be able to realise peace and development when we take practical steps to ensure that we have them, and one of the ways that I believe we can do – we can maintain peace is collaboration, stakeholders coming together.

“The last time the Zongo chiefs came together they had a forum, all working towards ensuring that we have peace. That is commendable. Other organisations are doing it. But it is also important for all of us as stakeholders in our communities, our imams, our sheikhs, our chiefs, there is a need for us to come together, adopt practical steps so that we can achieve peace. “

He also called for active youth engagements in the Zongo communities to prevent some political elements from using them to wreak havoc before during and after the election.

According to him, should any of the community leaders suspect any such activity, they should report it to their area police commanders for quick action to be taken.

“There is also the need for us to engage the young ones, the youth. Sit with them, work together, then we can attain development. I believe the chiefs have relationships with district commanders, divisional commanders in their area of jurisdiction.

“It is important that they take opportunity of the relationship they have to relay to them their fears, their problems, areas they think there will be difficulties during elections, after elections, before elections - relay it to the police so that the police can work with you so that we have peace during before and after the elections,” he said.

He also advised politicians to accept defeat calmly instead of instigating violence in their areas.

“This also goes to the politicians; defeat is a very difficult thing. More importantly because of the immense contribution, energy, whatever we put in in ensuring that we attain what we‘re looking for. But it is important when it’s not going our way, we don’t behave as others are doing in other parts of the world.”

Speaking in his capacity as a member of the National Peace Council through his Spokesperson, the National Chief Imam Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharubutu spoke in uncertain terms, charging politicians and the Ghanaian people to carryout violence-free campaigns even as the electioneering enters a homestretch.

According to him, despite the poor reputation of Zongo people as rowdy, there is yet to be any form of altercation in the Zongo communities. ‘

He charged them to maintain the peace as the country gears up for the 2020 elections.

“We must commend the people of Zongo. You’ve done well, you have shown maturity, and we have not seen anything bad during the campaign in our Zongos. We are perceived to be troublemakers but this time round, I mean so far there has not been any bad news from the Zongo. We commend our Zongo politicians for that,” he said.

PRO for the Council of zongo chiefs, Alhaji Moro Baba Issah urged stakeholders to professionally play their role on the day of elections to prevent disagreement and violence.

He said, “There are key players at the polling centres, you have you as a voter, the party representatives, the electoral commission, the security officers, the media and so on and so forth. But you as a voter, go there and cast your vote. It is your responsibility to do so. Don’t interfere with any other things. Just go and vote and go back home.

“And then we are appealing to the political parties, people that they’re going to put there as agents, they should put knowledgeable people and experienced people at polling centres. And then the commission that will be manning the centres, don’t do anything that will cause suspicion. And then the security men, don’t do anything that will cause suspicion or doubt at the polling centres.

“And then the press, be patient for the commission to release the results before reporting it to the world.”