The youth must demonstrate a high sense of maturity when discussing social and political issues, Miss Agnes Gandaa, Partnership Coordinator of the Tamale Ecclesiastical Province Pastoral Conference (TEPPCON), has said. They should also recognise that politics and good governance "are about common interest and development and not about party loyalty and personal interest". "Democracy and good governance are about listening to the campaign messages of leaders with a mission and vision. It means electing political leaders who would fulfill their promises and bring development to our communities". Miss Gandaa, made the call at a two-day workshop on, "Civic Rights and Responsibilities", in Tamale on Wednesday organised by TEPPCON on the theme, "Challenges of Development: The role of the youth", with sponsorship from the Konrad Adenauer Foundation (KAF). She expressed concern about the moral degeneration among the youth and attributed it to the removal of moral and religious education from the school curriculum. Miss Gandaa blamed the government and parents for placing more emphasis on the academic performance of the youth to the neglect of their moral upbringing. She expressed regret that the youth had allowed themselves to be identified with political parties first and foremost instead of their communities, districts and regions. Miss Gandaa said this had weakened the voice of the youth to argue for the development of their areas and rather made them tools in the hands of self-seeking politicians who used them to foment conflict. Alhaji Mustapha Ali Idris, Northern Regional Minister noted that the greatest challenge facing the country was indiscipline, which had eaten deeply into the fabric of all segments of the society. He said as future leaders the youth should be disciplined and shun bad habits such as drug abuse, hooliganism and the taste for foreign goods. The Regional Minister said the future did not belong to those content with mediocrity but rather those with foresight, vision, reason and courage in a personal commitment. "One thing you should always keep in mind is that in all your endeavours, you are shaping the destiny of a whole generation". Source: GNA