Traditional and community leaders have been called upon to involve more women in the peace-building processes to ensure sustainable peace in the country.
This is because women offer different insights and approaches to conflict building and have the unique ability to broker peace, thereby making conflict resolution more effective.
The Executive Director of the Community Development Alliance (CDA), a Non-Governmental Organisation, Salifu Issifu Kanton, made this call at a Regional peace and security conference in Wa, Upper West Region.
It was on the theme “Building Sustainable Peace and Security a Shared Responsibility- Leveraging Local Partnerships” and aimed at discussing ways to promote peaceful coexistence.
Funded by the USAID/OTI Littorals Regional Initiative (LRI) programme, it was organised in collaboration with the Regional Network of Women in Peace building (RENEW), a network of peace and security advocates.
The event was attended by more than 100 stakeholders in the peace and security area, including traditional leaders,civil society organisations, state agencies and representatives from the security agencies.
Mr Kanton urged stakeholders especially traditional authorities to tap into the influence of women to resolve conflicts in the communities.
“With the active involvement of women in decision making process, we can be rest assured that our security will be safeguarded. Let’s give women a chance, involve them in the decision-making processes, peace-building processes and the security processes so that ,collectively, we can ensure that we keep our country safe,” he said.
MrKanton stressed the need for an effective collaboration between stakeholders and the involvement of women in peace campaign to help ensure that this year’s election was incident free.
A member of the RENEW in the Lawra Municipality Hajia Rabiatu Musah, said through the RENEW, women in Lawra had become peace ambassadors within their families and the communities.
She said it was time for authorities to recognised the significant role women played in peace building and called on members of the RENEW to use their knowledge to continue to influence the youth to ensure peace in the societies.
‘’ Peace is the most priceless thing that we cherish most, without it we cannot go to farm, it is not only the job of the police to ensure that we are safe but a collective responsibility and with women all things are possible,’’ she said.
FROM RAFIA ABDUL RAZAK WA
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