Red Cross mobilises pupils to campaign for peace

The Ghana Red Cross Society has brought together more than 800 pupils in the Western Region to take part in a two hour peace-walk in Takoradi to advocate for peace and harmony in this year’s election.

The pupils, drawn from 17 basic educational institutions in the region, displayed placards with the inscription: “Ghana First, Partisan Politics Second,” ”Election is part of democracy but it doesn’t have to be violent,” ”Ghana is the only country we have, let’s keep it safe,” and “Life is sacred, don’t destroy it”.

The event saw the pupils and patrons of Red Cross marching through the principal streets of the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis amidst brass band music and singing.

Dr Edward Donkoh, the Regional Chairman of Red Cross, said the walk was to re-emphasise the need for peaceful elections as being advocated by the National Peace Council and other civil society organisations.

He said: “Those countries in Africa and other parts of the world where conflicts broke out due to election disputes resulted in creating many refugee camps, most of them living in deplorable conditions.

“Therefore, this unpleasant situation should not happen to our beloved country because we are noted for peace and not war,” he said.

Mr Matthew Boateng, the Regional Manager of Red Cross, said vulnerable people like women and children were most affected by political unrest, hence the involvement of children in the peace campaign.

Miss Priscilla Okai, a pupil of Kingsbury International School, said Ghana needed peace to enable them to grow to become politicians and responsible adults in the future.

Miss Mallisah Meah, a pupil of Peace Academy International School, appealed to the leadership of various political parties taking part in the November 7 polls to create conducive environment for them to learn in order to achieve their aspirations in life.