As Ghana prepares for its general elections on December 7, the Savannah Regional Youth Network has collaborated with Yefl-Ghana and the Empowerment for Life (E4L) program to host a one-day dialogue series aimed at preventing electoral violence and maintaining peace. This initiative comes at a crucial time, just four weeks before the elections, and seeks to ensure a peaceful and inclusive democratic process.
Mr. Abdulai Salam, Savannah Regional Coordinator for E4Life, emphasized the significance of youth involvement in promoting peace. “The youth are the future leaders of this country, and without peace, they won’t be able to take on that leadership role,” he stated at the Damongo Community Center on November 12, 2024. “The Empowerment for Life program recognizes the importance of peace in its overall mission to support civil society groups and organizations in the Northern Region” he added.
The E4L program works to prevent electoral violence by partnering with individuals and groups who might be used to instigate trouble. Mr. Salam stressed that the youth, in particular, are often exploited to forment violence, and it’s essential to engage them in peace-building efforts. By bringing together youth from three districts of the savannah region, security personnel, religious and traditional leaders, and political party representatives, the program aims to foster a culture of peace and tolerance.
(Cue Audio Mr. Salam)
The dialogue series yielded significant outcomes as representatives from various sectors, and heads of security services sharing messages of peace, promoting a unified commitment to peaceful elections, Political party representatives pledged to ensure peace before, during, and after the elections.
The program encouraged youth to not only preach peace but also to live by example.
Empowerment for Life (E4L) Programme
The E4L program envisions a democratic and just Ghana where all citizens have influence on political processes and equal access to resources. Its mission is to support civil society groups and organizations in the Northern Regions to drive social, economic, and political development initiatives.
By promoting peace and empowering youth, the Savannah Regional Youth Network, Yefl-Ghana, and the Empowerment for Life (E4L) program are contributing to a more inclusive and stable democratic process in Ghana.
(Cue Audio Inusah Karim)
