NGO ORGANISES PEACE FOOTBALL MATCH AT BAWKU (D/G Monday October 13, 2008.PAGE 36)

AS part of events to mark the United Nation's International Day of Peace and Ceasefire, a non-governmental organisation — Young People We Care — has organised a special football match at Bawku involving players from the various ethnic groups to promote peace and unity.
The ethnic diversity of Bawku was represented in the two clubs, namely, Winamzua and the Daduri Catholic Park teams, for this symbolic match.
The match was played at the Winamzua park and prior to kick-off, the Programmes Director of Young People We Care, Mr Godwin Yidana, explained the rationale behind the event.
Directing his words towards the two teams, he cautioned that “the game is an opportunity for you to come together as brothers. We're playing 15 minutes a side. The football represents "conflict" and the goals are "peace". You are not on the pitch to compete against each other. It doesn't matter who scores a goal or who wins; in this game, everyone is a winner.”
Despite the ominous storm clouds rolling overhead, students, local residents and keen spectators enjoyed the beautiful game devoid of violence.
Contrary to expectations, the game proceeded without a hint of violence or even a curse word.
Finally, the referee blew his whistle on a one-all draw and gathered the players together around one goal post for the penalty shoot-out.
The crowd jostled for positions as the two teams lined up with children standing on bicycle seats to get a better view of the game.
Winamzua team was declared the winner and the players of both sides came together with handshakes and friendly pats on the back.
In a post-match briefing, Mr Yidana, who is also a founder member of the Bawku Literary Society, introduced his partner, Ms Gayle Pescud, an Australian, through whose personal initiative the games were held.
Ms Pescud said “we decided to hold the match here and prove a point that Bawku is not as deadly as people are made to believe, and that the people of Bawku are good, especially the youth who are united and see one another as brothers and sisters. And that they were united as young people ready to solve their own problems”.
"We chose Bawku to mark the event because of the conflict situation that we've experienced over a good number of years now and, secondly, because of the fact that, as a result of the conflict, people think that Bawku is a deadly place and nothing friendly can take place," Ms Pescud added.
A Board Member of the Bawku Literary Society, Reverend Isaiah Joel, commended the organisers for using the game of football to bring the two sides together to climax the peace "we're yearning for". According to him, "without peace nothing we be achieve".