By Christopher Tetteh
SYDA – Sunyani, November 23, 2020
A global online forum to ascertain factors of electoral violence and possible measures to discourage election conflicts for Peacebuilding in the Sahel regions of Africa has been held on Saturday.
It was with a call on civil society organizations in Ghana to collaboratively up their advocacies for Peacebuilding and protecting national stability during and after the December 7 general elections.
The “international network for Peacebuilding forum” attended by global non governmental organizations was to analyzed the causes and negative impacts of election conflicts in the Sahel regions and possible preventive measures to be intensified for cohesiveness and socioeconomic development to thrive globally.
It was organized by Initiative Black and White Ghana and Germany (IBWG&G), a German-base non governmental organization into global socioeconomic development of the people.
Dr. Emmanuel Ametepeh, the IBWG&G project coordinator in Germany, who chaired the function said the meeting was also to understand the growing dangers of instability in the Sahel regions and how Ghana could be affected if proactive measures are not taken.
It focuses on particularly, peace before, during and after the coming general elections, he added.
Collaborative partners were the Sunyani Youth Development Associated (SYDA), a Sunyani based Youth group in socioeconomic livelihood empowerment for particularly young people and Matthew cares Foundation International, a Liberia and Ghana base NGO seeking the welfare of vulnerable children.
Other partners included Fokus Sahel, a German base NGO into advocacy works, aimed at raising awareness for the regions and create opportunities and communication channels for partners from the Sahel countries to voice their concerns to policy makers and the public on peacebuilding in the Sahel region of Africa.
Mr. Rolf Schuh, a board member of the IBWG&G Organisation urged Ghanaians, most especially young ones to “have attitudinal change and consider yourself Ghanaian first” in all endeavors in the 2020 general elections.
Mr. Joseph Tapena, the IBWG&G project coordinator in Ghana noted the ultimate priority of every Ghanaian must focus on national stability by protecting the nation’s peace and the lives of innocent citizens.
He therefore, called on civil society organizations to responsibly rise for advocacies, sensitatization and education for free and peaceful polls.
Mr. Atta Akoto Senior, the President of Sunyani Youth Development Association (SYDA) informed that the Association was going to intensify a mega peace campaign to sensitize and educate the public on the need for the citizens to understand peace preservation and protection.
He explained the event would start with a walk through the principal streets of Sunyani on Wednesday, 25 November this year together with other youth groups and association in and outside Sunyani.
Mr. Akoto said community outreach program would be subsequent events afterwards to reach the various communities in and around Sunyani and the Bono Region as part of the main programs of the peace campaign to advocate for electoral violence free and sustainable peace after the elections.
SYDA