Ghana’s youth have been called upon to remain steadfast for peace and not to allow themselves to be used as tools to cause violence as the nation prepares for the upcoming general election.
They have been urged to see themselves as “the heart of the nation’s future” and to, therefore, engage in actions that would build a stronger Ghana by eschewing violence before, during and after the 2024 general election.
The call was made during a peace campaign.
Stakeholders and youth groups participated in the peace campaign signed a peace pact to affirm their commitment to always maintaining peace, especially during this electioneering.
Mrs. Vida Addi, the Upper West Regional Director of the National Youth Authority (NYA), made the call in Wa at the weekend during a Youth Peace Walk towards promoting peace during the election and beyond.
Hundreds of youths from youth groups and youth movements in the region participated in the walk through the streets of Wa to propagate the urgent need for the youth to uphold the nation’s peace in the critical period of the election.
“While politicians will naturally bring differences in opinion, let those differences be expressed through constructive debates and issue-based campaigns, not insults or attacks.
“We must collectively reject acrimony and violence, for these are not the values that build a united and prosperous society,” Mrs. Addi advised the youth.
She encouraged the people to uphold the principles of the peace pact to help promote peaceful coexistence in their communities.
Mrs. Addi also encouraged the youth to be ambassadors of peace saying, “Maintaining peace is a shared responsibility and together we can ensure a violence-free election.”
Representatives of the various youth groups and youth movements at the event took turns to address the participants, expressing their commitment to peace.
Mr. Imoro Rashid of the Zongo Youth Alliance said many people held the perception that Zongo youth were “troublemakers” and that birthed the “Zongo Youth Alliance” comprising youth from different political parties to preach peace and to change that perception among the people.
“There cannot be anything greater than peace, because we the youth are growing up and peace is what we need to be able to achieve our goals and aspirations,” he observed.
Mr. Rashid, therefore, appealed to the youth to embrace peace wherever they found themselves, especially as the 2024 election approached to ensure peace prevailed during the election period and beyond.
