WESTERN NORTH
WE SHOULD LEAVE IN PEACE AND HARMONY BEFORE, DURING AND AFTER ELECTION
Bibiani Secondary school newly built assembly hall was the venue for the Western North Region for the eleventh Community Youth Peace Durbar.
The National Peace Council in collaboration with the National Cadet Corps Ghana organized a peace durbar across the sixteen Regions with the view of educating the youth and opinion leaders on the need to go about their voting in a peaceful manner.
The Durbar brought together a cross section of people from the community such as youth groups, political parties, traditional authorities and many others.
The Headmaster of the school Mr. Stephen K Dandey in his opening address said he was very happy this event is being organized within his domain and hoped this will go a long way to address certain electoral issues being raised in some communities.
In his presentation Mr. David Yeboah in charge of the Guidance and Counseling Department of the School who opined the view of a sound minded youth who will go out there to cast his or her vote and peaceful retire to the house for the monitoring of proceedings on the Radio or TV to later return to the counting of votes during the election. For which he said will be a true reflections of the duties of the Electoral Commission and the various security services on the smooth discharge of duties. He further more sounded a note of caution to the would-be jubilant and losers to be mindful of how to go about their celebrations and not to intimidate anyone and also avoid the tendencies of Politicians influencing them to cause mayhem.
During the questions and suggestion time, the youth asked questions bothering them on the role of the Regional Peace Councils on what they actually do and why they wait till the eleventh hour to be coming round to preach peace. Another also asked questions on politicians dishing out monies and goodies to the electorates forcing them to vote and is it necessary for the electorates to collect these monies and goodies for them. In response the team leader admonished all youth to be mindful of the way they deal with these politicians during these period. He asked them to seek from the politicians their visions and support for their communities instead of the empty promises but make sure they take the positives from them.
The National Cadet Coordinator General Mr. Nicholas Nii Tettey – Amarteifio in his closing remarks/vote of thanks quoted Thich Nhat Hanh’s “Working for Peace in the future is working for peace in the present moment”, he further thanked all for coming and encouraged them to truthful, loyal, faithful and violent free citizens.
The Youth Anthem was sang by all joyfully.