Political Parties at Akwatia march for peace

Akwatia at the weekend made history when all political parties and the youth movements undertook a peace walk followed by a rally aimed at promoting reconciliation and peace during the coming general elections.

This was followed by a candle light procession in the evening through the major routes of Akwatia, a mining town, which earned a bad name during the last parliamentary and presidential elections through acts of violence.

Organized by the Foundation for Better Generation (FBG) in collaboration with Youth Peace Movement (TOPEM); the two kilometer walk was accompanied by brass band music from Boadua to Akwatia.

The two leading contestants during the last general election who will face each other again this December, Dr Kofi Asare, the incumbent New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament (MP) for Akwatia and Mr. Mohammed Ahmed Baba Jamal, Deputy Tourism Minister, who is standing on the ticket of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) were at the forefront of the walk, walking side by side.

They adorned each other’s party paraphernalia to show their supporters that there are no ill feelings between them.

At certain stages of the walk, the two held each other’s hands and were cheered all the way to the Akwatiahene palace.

They later invited the Akwatiahene Osabarima Kofi Boateng III to a joint rally where there was great merry making with party opponents embracing one another.

All the speakers spoke about the need for absolute peace during the December polls to erase the negative image Akwatia had earned.

Addressing the rally, Dr Asare said God should forbid that he should be a vehicle for political violence and asked all political parties to ensure that their supporters refrained from acts that could generate conflict and violence.

He jokingly said those who wanted to wrestle his seat should wait until he had given it up.

In reply, Mr. Baba Jamal said he was waiting patiently for December 7 to grab the seat and therefore the MP should prepare his handing over note.

He advised his supporters and others to give peace a chance in the interest of Akwatia and called on the local “Denkyembuo” FM station to be fair to all political parties with balance reportage for the people to make informed choices.

He said “from today let us make unity, peace and development at Akwatia our utmost concern”.

The Peoples National Convention (PNC) Parliamentary Candidate, Mr. Kwarkoh Dickson, also called for peace, which he described as a key to development and success.

Nana Akwatiahene thanked the youth for organizing the peace walk and the rally and noted that the way people talk and behave could generate violence so everyone should learn to behave.

He said stealing of ballot boxes and engaging in acts of violence should be a thing of the past.

Mr. Isaac Osei of the FBG, said political violence was a disgrace to Akwatia and that was why FBG and YOPEM decided to hold the programme to reconcile all on the political divide.

Mr. Emmanuel Wontumi Appiah, Assistant Civic Education Officer at the Kwaebibirem National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) warned against the removal of political party posters which was against the law.

He advised that victors in the polls should restrain themselves in their celebration in order not to provoke the losers.

The children and women of Akwatia later presented petitions appealing to political parties to promote peace since during violence it was children and women who suffer most.**