Bawku hosts peace workshop(Thursday, September 20, 2012. Page 22)

Story: Benjamin Xornam Glover Foundation for Security and Development in Africa (FOSDA), has organized a two day peace workshop for civil society organization as well as political parties, youth groups and traditional leaders on the need for peaceful co-existence ahead of the national elections in December this year. The workshop was on the theme “Ghana Election 2012 Ballots –not-Bullets” and Bawku was among the venue chosen for the workshop due to the volatility of the area. It was basically to engage all stakeholders in the elections in a dialogue on the need to choose peace instead of conflict. The Programmes Coordinator for FOSDA, Mr, Seidu Imoro explained that election years and highly charged political campaigns have often sparked violent and sometimes deadly conflicts in areas such as Bawku hence the need to engage the youth, security forces and other stakeholders in the area to stop violent conflicts before they begin. He said that in Ghana, FOSDA with support from IBIS-Ghana and the United Nations Development Program, are embarking on similar programmes in Navrongo and Paga in the Upper East Region, Wa in Upper West Region and Yendi, Gushegu and Tamale Metropolis in the Northern Region. Mr. Imoro said the “Ballots not Bullets” project aims at training the youth and other members of the community such as women in ‘conflict hot spots’ to serve as Peace Ambassadors and also position them elections monitors on voting day to contribute to a successful poll. He said FOSDA first introduced and funded a “Ballots not Bullets” campaign in Ghana’s 2004 elections and since then with support from its partners has extended its campaign to countries like Liberia, Togo and Sierra Leone elections Mr. Aiden Naa Sarbie, who facilitated the programme, told the participants that as a student for conflict and peace study, there was the need for people to make a choice to build peace. “Prayer and exaltations alone will not lead to attaining a peaceful and trouble free elections. There is the need for all players in the elections to work closely to sustain the peace”, he said. The Bawku Municipal Police Commander Chief Superintendent, Samuel Alordey gave the assurance the security agencies will be adequately deployed on elections days to ensure that polling stations in Bawku especially those identified as flash points” or “hot spots” do not witness an escalation. The Municipal Electoral Officer, Mr. Kofi Asante Owusu called for extensive education and understanding of the electoral processes to avoid unwarranted misunderstanding between party agents, the security agencies and the presiding officers at the polling stations. -End-