GUNA holds seminar on peace towards election 2012

The National Executives of the Ghana United Nations Association (GUNA) on Saturday held a Regional peace seminar for its Greater Accra chapters to raise awareness on peace before, during and after the elections. About 60 chapters GUNA from Bortianor to the Dangme East and West Districts of the Greater Accra Region are attending the seminar, which would also witness the commissioning and deployment of peace ambassadors to the various communities nation-wide, to preach the message of peace to Ghanaians. GUNA, which is a Civil Society Non-governmental organization, exist in various countries to enhance the relationship between the people of a member state and the United Nations (UN), and also to raise public awareness of the UN and its work. It also promotes its general goals and act as an advisory body to government, decision making bodies and the news media. Dr Mike Awua Asamoa, National Coordinating Director, GUNA, in an address said Ghanaians must not take the current peaceful atmosphere in the country for granted, but must work towards sustaining it, before, during and after election 2012. He called on the youth be the touch bearers in their communities in the advocacy towards a peaceful general elections. He pleaded for a dynamic use of youthful exuberance for national development, adding that, because they the future leaders they must do all they can to sustain the peace now for their own future benefit. He challenged the Media to be sensitive to issues and present their reporting on political activities with much circumspection and decorum, stressing that, the power of media information, if negative, could incite violence among opposing sides, thereby creating an atmosphere of insecurity in the country.    Addressing the issue of multi-party democracy, he underscored the importance of the proliferation of political parties in Ghana as a quality ingredient of democracy, "yet the current democratic dispensation should not be abused". He appealed to political parties to dwell on issues rather than attacking their opponents with verbal abuses, saying that, this trend would not promote peace, but rather fuel conflict among their supporters. Dr Asamoa urged that the various state agencies and national institutions, such as the National Electoral Commission and the judiciary, which safeguards the constitution of the country, must be supported by all well meaning Ghanaians to perform their roles well. He said GUNA foresees a peaceful election, because Ghana has all the credentials to achieve peace, adding that, the country could boast of pioneering peace building through dialogue within the country and in the African sub-Region. He explained that the twin programme, which would be replicated in all the Regions, would also witness the elections of new Regional executives for the Association in each Region. Madam Peace Kondo, Senior Civic Education Officer, National Commission on Civic Education (NCCE), noted that the fight for peace and development would be elusive without the full participation of all the citizenry. She said elections demonstrate a sense of unity; as electorates delegate people to manage the nation's resources, hence in as much as people are free to exercise their constitutional rights of freedom of speech and expression, the must do so with sensitivity, circumspection and with decorum. She urged Ghanaians to remain calm, accommodating and patient with one another in order to sustain the peaceful atmosphere in the country to further promote national development.

GNA