Political parties urged to avoid hate speech, remain decorous in electioneering

Osagyefo Oseadeeyo Dr Agyemang Badu II, the President of the Bono Regional House of Chiefs, has urged political parties to remain decorous, and avoid hate speech in electioneering.He said hate speech would trigger political violence, disturb the prevailing national peace, and derail development.Osageyfo Oseadeeyo Dr Badu II, also the Paramount Chief of the Dormaa Traditional Area, gave the advice when addressing a colourful durbar to climax the 'Meko Bono' home coming and festival, held at Techiman in the Bono East Region.A group of Bono natives instituted the festival celebrated annually to showcase the rich cultural heritage and tourism potential in the Bono region to attract investments and unite the people for the purpose of development.It was held on the theme: 'Promoting, Unity, Tourism and Culture.'Osagyefo Oseadeeyo Dr Badu II said peace remained paramount and pre-requisite for development and called on all and sundry to contribute and help preserve and strengthen the peace of the nation for development to progress.Mr Seth Kofi Yeboah, the lead Organizer of the festival, said the festival also aimed at bringing together Bono residents abroad to learn the Bono traditions and contribute their quota towards the socio-economic development of the region.'The festival would continue to promote the culture of the Bonos and also improve economic activities of the people,' he stated.Nana Owusu Gyare II, the Akwamuhene (sub-chief) of the Techiman Traditional Area, urged the people to embrace culture and traditions, saying that reflected the identity and binds the people together.'It will not be good, if the people forget or undermine their tradition and culture because culture and tradition create a sense of unity and togetherness among us,' he said, and urged the people to continue to forge ahead in unity and promote their tradition and culture.A fund-raising rally in support of the festival yielded GHC700,000.Source : Ghana News Agency