By Erica Apeatua Addo
Prestea (W/R), Oct 21, GNA-Traditional leaders, local council of churches, Muslim community and Prestea urban council in collaboration with the security services in Prestea have organized a peace walk to promote peace and violence free elections on December 7, 2024.
The walk brought hundreds of people including, officers from the Ghana Police Service, Ghana National Fire Service, Ghana Immigration Service, National Ambulance Service, clergy, Muslims, traditional rulers, political parties, Electoral Commission, National Commission for Civic Education and students who marched through the principal streets in Prestea and Himan.
The students carried placards with the inscriptions “Say no to violence”, “My vote is my power”, “Vote on issues”, “Peace only builds up”, Peaceful elections, Happy Prestea”, “Elections without fear”, “No to violence yes to peace”, “Be your brother’s keeper”, “Vote once” and “Reject candidates who incite violence”.
Chief Superintendent of Police William Jalialu, Prestea Police Commander, Divisional Officer Grade II Prince Kwaku Anni, Municipal Fire Commander of Prestea and the Assistant Superintendent of Immigration Gideon Tietaah, second in command, Prestea were all present.
Speakers who addressed the participants after the walk were Nana Nteboah Prah IV, Divisional Chief of Himan-Prestea, Apostle Isaac Arthur, chairman, Local Council of Churches in Prestea, Alhaji Abdul Karim Hassan Hussein, chief imam of Prestea, among others.
Chief Superintendent of Police William Jalialu, earlier told the Ghana News Agency that the essence of the walk was to sensitise the public that the 2024 December elections should be incident free because a violent election would not yield the desired peace and stability for growth to strive within any community.
He said “We want people to understand that we are all brothers and sisters in the community, party colors should not divide us and create chaos among ourselves because we trade, and party among ourselves, so why should we be enemies during elections”
“During the walk, most of the participants were happily moving together and used the Ghana National flag instead of their party colors and this was unique. We want them to
carry this same love and support for each other during and beyond the elections” Chief Superintendent Jalialu observed.
He emphasized that “If it continues like this, they will drum the message home and people would get to understand and appreciate that it’s not worth to fight themselves just because of elections, adding, this is the main message from the security services to the general public”.
According to him, they would be rolling the event over gradually until December 7, 2024, assured residents in the Municipality of the security services readiness to ensure a peaceful atmosphere before, during and after the elections.
Nana Nteboah Prah IV, Divisional Chief of Himan-Prestea, commended all the groups that participated in the walk, and cautioned the youth not to sacrifice their pervious lives for any political party or individual ahead of the elections.
Apostle Isaac Arthur, chairman, local council of churches in Prestea, urged Ghanaians to guard against any negative acts, which could trigger violence and rather support the security agencies to carry out their duties smoothly.
Alhaji Abdul Karim Hassan Hussein, chief imam of Prestea, was of the view that the country could not afford to lose any live because of elections, and therefore, called on all stakeholders to work together and ensure that Ghana emerged from the 2024 polls more united.
GNA