The Foundation for Security and Development in Africa (FOSDA) has joined Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in Accra to March for Peace ahead of the 2020 General Elections scheduled for 7th December, 2020. The March, dubbed “All Women and Youth Call for Peace” was a crucial one, ahead of the 4 days before the elections. Essentially, the March was to drum home the message of peace to the Citizens in general and particularly the electorate who will be going to the polls.
The Peace March started from the Efua Sutherland Park, through the principal streets of the Accra Central Business District i.e the Liberia Road, John Atta Mills High Street, Independence Link, and the Independence Avenue. There were over 100 participants and representatives of CSOs in the March who carried various placards with different peace messages. This included “Remember Ghana First”, “Zero Tolerance for Electoral Violence”, “Peace Begins with You”, “We Need Peace in Ghana”, “Ballots not Bullets. Vote in Peace”, Elections are Not War, Vote in Peace” among several others.
Speaking to the media, the Programmes Manager of FOSDA, Madam Theodora Williams Anti noted that the call for Peace is very important and particularly for women and youth to add their voice to the call for peace since they are the group that suffers the most when there is violence. She urged them to spread the peace message to their friends, families and communities.
There were remarks from representatives of the Police and National Peace Council who on their part emphasized the role of the citizens in maintaining peace before, during and after the elections.
The Peace March was led by Women In Leadership International (WILI), a gender and child focused CSO.