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The Youth Wing of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Movement (Khuddam-Ul Ahmadiyya) Ghana, has pledged their commitment to maintain peace during the activities heralding the November 7 General Election and thereafter.

According to them, the goodness and fairness of the election was their topmost priority, therefore, Ghanaians must do their best to ensure that the elections were conducted devoid of violence and chaos. 

They made the pledge at the 35th Annual Rally of the Central-West Region at Ekumfi Essakyir.

 Mr. Mohammed Quantson, the headmaster of the Ekumfi T.I Ahmadiyya Senior High School, who delivered the keynote address, urged the major stakeholders of the elections, particularly, the political parties, Electoral Commission, security agencies and the media, to ensure fair play, justice and equality to maintain the integrity of the system.

The three-day convention which was, on the theme: “Ensuring Peaceful Elections, Our Responsibilities”, was to provide the platform for members of the Ahmadiyya Youth Movement to deliberate on their past activities and adopt strategies for the future to strengthen their faith in Islam.

Mr. Quantson said the conduct of political parties was crucial to having successful elections and, therefore, cautioned the leaders of the various political parties to be mindful of their utterances, actions and inactions as it had the potential of influencing their supporters to indulge in violence. 

He said it was clear in this dispensation that sovereignty could not be taken with violence and chaos, explaining that, an election should be seen as a battle for winning the hearts and minds of the electorate and not as a “do or die affair” or “a winning at all cost affair”.

He said the right to join a political party of choice must be exercised with love and understanding for the country so that there would be unity of purpose in diversity to foster national development.

Mr. Quantson noted that the youth were often used by the political parties to achieve their ambitions and, therefore, advised the Muslim youth to be bold and shun politicians who might engage them to resort to violence and other illegal means for any purpose.

“Remember that Islam stands for peace and for that matter, our actions and inactions must portray that,” he cautioned.

He, however, urged them to continue to participate in the political activities in a diligent and responsible manner to contribute to a deepened democracy at all levels of governance.

Mr. Sadique Bin Usman, the President of the Ahmadiyya Youth Wing in the Central-West Region, said Islamic teachings, as expounded in the Holy Qur’an and the Hadith, repeatedly admonished Muslims to ensure peaceful coexistence in their neighborhood so they live by these teachings.

He explained that the theme was chosen bearing in mind that all well-meaning Ghanaians, irrespective of gender, tribe, and status in society, religious persuasion or political affiliation, would never wish doom for the country but they needed to know what to do to make the country peaceful always.

Mr. Abdul Noor Wahab, the National President of the Ahmadiyya Youth Wing, said it was time Ghanaians realised that they had a stake in ensuring that the November Polls became peaceful such that they could continue to enjoy the peace.

He asked all Muslims to continue to pray fervently for the country because it was going through difficult moments.