Sunyani women march for peace

Sunyani, Dec. 1, GNA - The National Commission on Women and Development (NCWD) on Tuesday organized a peaceful march for women groups in Sunyani.

About 200 women drawn from the Sunyani Municipality walked through the principal streets of the town with placards some of which read: "Violence free election sustains democracy", "addressed issues and not personalities", and "women have to see Ghana in cheers".

Madam Juliana Amponsah, Regional Director of the NCWD, said the march, which was under the theme: "A healthy woman for a healthy nation, so stop violence against women," aimed at educating women on the need to maintain peace in the country and to stay together in unity. He stated that women and children suffered most in the event of war and conflicts.

"Rape, torture and humiliations are some of the things those women go through when there is war," she said and called on all Ghanaians to learn to tolerate each other's views and to desist from "baseless arguments".

Mr. Ignatius Baffuor Awuah, Sunyani Municipal Chief Executive, said the New Patriotic Party (NPP) had been educating its supporters to desist from violence and urged all political parties to advise their members to conduct themselves peacefully during and after the election. Mr. Anthony Oppong, Municipal Electoral Officer, said the Electoral Commission had put in place the necessary measures to ensure free and fair elections and urged all to ensure that this was achieved. Nana Asore Nkrawire II, advised voters to leave the polling stations after casting their votes and avoid "unnecessary arguments", which could lead to confrontation.