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Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, a Deputy Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, has strongly criticized Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in the country for keeping silent over the increasing hate speeches being preached by politicians. �Their silence on these matters is very disturbing, and it has contributed to the increase in provocative statements,� he told newsmen in Accra yesterday. He was of the view that outright condemnation by the CSOs of previous inciting speeches by politicians would have saved the nation from the increasing provocative utterances. He said as civil society groups, they had a duty to speak for the public on matters of national concern, adding that political activists continued to make provocative statements because the previous ones had not been condemned by the CSOs. �If the CDDs, the IDEGs, the IEAs, the churches and the National Peace Council had descended heavily on those who made hate speeches earlier, others like Kennedy Agyapong wouldn�t have had the courage to declare war,� he said. He urged the CSOs �to be proactive and help to save the country from being plunged into dangerous situation facilitated by irresponsible statements by political leaders� Mr. Ankrah also urged the police to do more to deal with people inciting violence, and asked them to execute their mandate without fear or favour.