Religious and traditional leaders at a workshop in Bolgatanga are looking at various ways to sustain peace to ensure stability and support rapid socio-economic development of the area.
Christian, Muslim, Security Service and Traditional Leaders are attending the two-day workshop on the theme; "Religion as a Vehicle for
Peace Building".
The workshop was organized by Initiative on Conflict Resolution (ICR), a Tamale based Non Governmental Organization (NGO) and supported by the United Nations Development Fund (UNDP).
It was to empower the citizenry on conflict resolution, peace building, emergency preparedness and contingency planning and draw the attention of religious leaders to play their respective roles effectively at maintaining
peace in the conflict areas of the region.
Mr Mark Woyongo, Upper East Regional Minister, said the national peace advisory council was formulating policy frameworks that would enable and facilitate the development of mechanisms for co-operation among all relevant
stakeholders in peace building.
The Minister urged traditional leaders to live exemplary lives worthy of emulation so as to impact positively on their followers.
"You are seen to be closer to God and therefore, whatever you say and do is taken with the seriousness it deserves," he added.
Right Reverend Lucas Abadanlora, President of the Ghana Catholic Bishops Conference and Bishop of the Navrongo-Bolgatanga Diocese, said the conflict in Bawku was all about a broken relationship, therefore, there was the need to rebuild that relationship in other to maintain lasting peace in Bawku.
Bishop Abadanlora appealed to non-resident people of Bawku to take an active part in bringing lasting peace to the area since the people would like to listen to those they know.
Mr Damma Salifu, Programme Manager, said religious leaders must be bold to tell the young people that no one could consider himself faithful to the great and merciful God and at the same time dare to kill his brother because
religion and peace went together.
Lieutenant Mark Opong-Kumesi, Platoon Commanding Officer for the Airborn Force in Bawku, noted that the peace in Bawku was fragile and needed the support of all to strengthen and sustain it.
He said he and his men had witnessed the two factions; Mamprusis and Kusasis, praying together in the same mosque and the two leaders of both
parties openly shaking hands, telling the whole world that they were at peace with each other.
He appealed to the Religious Leaders to focus their sermons on the youth to calm them down.