The Eastern Regional Peace Council recently organized a consultative dialogue in the Suhum Constituency to promote peaceful elections.
The dialogue aimed to develop a pre-election peace pledge in a constituency identified as a hotspot, which will be signed by parliamentary candidates on the eve of the 2024 elections.
Lawyer Georgette Francois, an expert in alternative dispute resolution, facilitated the program and the program was sponsored by Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and united Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
“Conflict is not inherently negative, It is our response to conflict that determines whether it becomes destructive”.
Lawyer Francois urged political party members to adopt conciliatory gestures, collaborate, and accommodate one another. She further noted that even if a candidate does not win, it should still be seen as a collective victory for peace and democracy.
“Some of the things that causes conflict that we must ignore are, stereotyping, misunderstanding, vigilantism among others, so we should avoid all this to promote peace and since both parties have signed the peace pact which means they are ready to let peace reign, I’m sure it’s going to be like that”.
The Executive Secretary of the Eastern Regional Peace Council, Prince Albert Koomson, also stressed the importance of peacebuilding in Suhum due to its history of election-related tensions.
He explained the necessity of bringing stakeholders together to ensure peaceful elections in this hotspot district.
Both Mr. Francois and Koomson advised that walking away from conflicts at polling stations is a sign of wisdom, courage, and dignity, even when personal interests feel threatened, individuals should collaborate for the greater good of peace.
Source:Mybrytfmonline.com/Mujahidatu Mohammed
