UPPER EAST WOMEN COMMITTED TO PEACEFUL ELECTIONS (Daily Graphic Saturday November 1, 2008 PAGE 11)

PARTICIPANTS at a forum on women’s contribution to peaceful elections in December, this year, have called on all political parties to ensure that this year’s election campaigns by the various political parties in the Upper East Region are devoid of violence.
They have also cautioned the leaders of the various political parties to advise their supporters to avoid any form of activity that could lead to violence and tension in the region before, during and after the general election.
The forum was organised by the Upper East Regional Office of the Department of Women with support from the Sustainable Peace Initiative.
It was attended by members of the Regional Women’s Organisers of the various political parties, female parliamentary candidates, gender desk officers as well as convenors for gender select committee from the Talensi-Nabdam, Kassena-Nankana, Bawku and Bolgatanga municipalities and media practitioners.
In a presentation, the Upper East Regional Director of the Department of Women, Ms Paulina Abayage, noted that since women and children formed a greater percentage of the country’s population they would be greatly affected if there was an outbreak of violence in the country.
She appealed to politicians to avoid insults during their campaigns and concentrate on issues, since their ultimate goal was to win power to create a conducive atmosphere for the country’s development, stressing that since women and children bore the brunt of political tension, that situation must be avoided.
“If peace is to be long lasting, then it is necessary to re-examine the concept of peace to include women at its centre rather than the periphery,” she said.
At the end of the forum, participants appealed to all political parties to refrain from using the youth to foment trouble.
They also entreated leaders of all political parties to adhere to the political parties’ code of conducts to avoid acts of violence.
Meanwhile, the participants have resolved to work closely with the Department of Women to embark on sensitisation programmes in some communities, including Bawku, which recently experienced tribal conflict to educate people on the need for peaceful elections.
The sensitisation programme is aimed at engaging chiefs and opinion leaders to dialogue to find constructive and active ways to promote peace in their communities during and after the elections.