Bawku women and youth hold peace forum

Bawku (U/E), Oct.18 GNA - Mr Mark Woyongo, Upper East Regional Minister, at the weekend said it was government's desire to see peace maintained in Bawku so that the Better Ghana Agenda could be implemented.

He noted that without peace, all human endeavours such as education, health delivery and farming could not take place and that would hamper development. Mr Woyongo said this at a Peace Forum organized by the Regional Peace Advisory Council in Bawku and EL-Shiloh Foundation, a non governmental organisation (NGO) working to promote peace in conflict areas.

In recognition of the hard work of the inter-ethnic peace committee in the area, the Minister disclosed that government and other peace-loving bodies had contributed funds and logistics to help realize the goals of the committee. Mr Woyongo commended the people for their cooperation with the security personnel in their bid to stop acts detrimental to the peace and security of the area.

Alhaji Ibrahim Kolbilah, Co-Chairman of the Inter Ethnic Peace Committee, identified women and the youth as potential people who could stop the conflict and suggested that government placed a mandate on the two groups to maintain peace in the area. Alhaji Kolbilah noted that peace had gone far from Bawku for a long time, and called on the people to unite and take measures that would maintain peace saying "no one can bring peace to Bawku apart from its people".

He said the traditional rites, to pacify the gods, being carried out by the committee had proven fruitful and the people were responding to persuasions to give peace a chance.

Alhaji Kolbilah indicated that peace building was a collective responsibility and all hands had to be put on deck with youth and women in the lead.

He appealed to stakeholders not to pretend to pledge for peace and denounce violence while planning for violence underground. The Mission Director for the NGO, Mrs Mary Nkrumah, noted that keeping peace could promote human dignity and called on the people to consider the future of the area and give peace a chance.