Policy think tank, WANEP-Ghana in collaboration with the Northern Regional Peace Council has sensitized about 70 community youth groups in the Northern Region on the need to ensure violence free elections on December 7.
The participants attended a forum which was facilitated by the National Youth Authority (NYA) in line with the project codenamed, “Reacting to early warning and Response Data in West Africa (REWARD).
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) sponsored the forum on the theme, “Northern Youth United Against Electoral Violence in 2016.”
Executive Secretary of the Northern Regional Peace Council, Reverend Father Thaddeus Kuusah allayed fears that Northern Region will record skirmishes on December 7.
He nonetheless bemoaned tensions in some identified flash points especially in the Mamprugu area which necessitated the cancellation of a Parliamentary debate in the Walewale constituency.
Father Kuusah impressed upon the participants to spread the gospel of peaceful co-existence in their communities.
He also inspired them to serve as peer Ambassadors kicking against electoral violence ahead of the December 7 polls.
He appealed to the law enforcement agencies to be on a high alert to avert any untoward situations before, during and after the polls.
A development consultant, Bagzaa Naa Ahassan Issahaku Amadu dealt with the topic, “Minimizing offences of electoral laws among the youth.”
He observed that electoral violence is pervasive in the Northern Region because of the highest illiteracy rate.
According to Bagzaa Naa Amadu, the 2010 population and housing census data exposed the Northern Region having the highest illiteracy rate.
“Sixty three percent of the entire population of the Northern Region is illiterates and a good number of them are from the Dagomba speaking areas and therefore Northern Region should be the lead advocate of peace to attract investors.”
He cautioned parents against allowing their children considered as minors to partake in the upcoming elections.
Youth empowerment and peace crusader, Sheikh Dr. Al-Hussein Zakariah presented a paper on “Using religious precepts to minimize electoral violence among the youth.”
He implored all major actors in the political arena to adhere to the dictates of multi party democracy.
He tasked the youth to abstain from acts that could culminate into the loss of lives and destruction of properties under the pretext of power struggle.
Sheikh Dr. Al-Hussein Zakariah commended the people of Dagbon for decoupling chieftaincy from the 2016 campaign strategies.
He called for sustainability of all peace crusades after the general elections.
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(Via: CitiFM Online Ghana)
