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The Northern Regional House of Chiefs has called on the government to provide the Electoral Commission (EC) with all the funds and logistics needed for a credible general election in 2016.

The House also admonished President John Dramani Mahama to preach about peaceful coexistence and tolerance among Ghanaians and the people in the West African sub-region

The President of the Northern Regional House of Chiefs, the Nayiri, Na Bohagu Mahami Abdulai Sheriga, who is also the overlord of the Mamprugu state, made the call in a speech read on his behalf when President John Dramani Mahama paid a courtesy call on the Northern Regional House of Chiefs last Sunday as part of his two-day visit to the Northern Region.

"We passionately pray that Almighty God and our ancestral skins back and support you to achieve your desired aim of continuing to be the President of the Republic of Ghana come January, 2017",  he said.

The Nayiri, on behalf of the chiefs and people of the Northern Region also expressed their appreciation to President Mahama for the numerous development projects that his government had brought to the region.

He also called on Ghanaians to play their part to ensure a peaceful, free and fair election in 2016 for Ghana to continue to be the oasis of peace and stability in the sub-region.

  Appeal

The President of the Northern Regional House of Chiefs also appealed to President Mahama to rehabilitate the offices of the Regional House of Chiefs as promised by his predecessor, Prof. John Evans Atta Mills.

He further appealed for a mini bus to alleviate the hardship members of the House encounter when they travel.

  Response

President Mahama, who was accompanied by his wife, Lordina, in his response, said a special budgetary secretariat had been set up at the Ministry of Finance to make available all the funds the EC needed to organise the 2016 elections.

He noted that because of the crucial nature of the 2016 election, the government would ensure that the EC was given all the funds it needed for the elections.

President Mahama also gave the assurance that the government would also consider the appeal by the Nayiri to renovate the House and provide it with a bus to facilitate the movement of the chiefs.

President Mahama said he would continue to focus on the provision of infrastructure, especially roads to ensure that the country could boast of weather-tested roads to facilitate the smooth transportation of people and goods.

Among the President's team were the Chief of Staff, Mr Julius Debrah, the National Security Advisor, Mr Baba Kamara, and the Minister of Communications, Mr Edward Omane Boamah.