International Peace Day commemorated in Accra
A National women’s peace and security (WPS) conference was yesterday held at the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC) in Accra.
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It formed part of activities for the commemoration of this year’s International Peace Day on the theme: “Cultivating the culture of peace for Ghana 2024 general elections: The role of women.”
The event is observed on September 21, every year.
The conference, which was aimed at promoting women’s role in peacebuilding, was attended by more than 100 women, including Queen Mothers, women in academia, security services, CSOs and diplomats.
The participants were trained and equipped in necessary mediation skills and how they could contribute towards ensuring peace in the December 7, elections this year.
It was organised by Foundation for Security Development in Africa, a CSO, in collaboration with KAIPTC, the Swedish International Development and Global Affairs Canada.
Representation
The Executive Director of FOSDA, Theodora Williams-Anti, said: “We need the insults, stereotype and structural barriers against women to stop. We need societies where women have leadership roles and can offer something.
“We need women to come out and also talk about peace, educate their communities, their children, their husbands and their brothers about peace, and get all to rally for peace,” she added.
Ms Williams-Anti further said that “we have just about 70 women who are contesting these elections for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC), and we need to support all of them and vote for these women, otherwise we are very likely to have less numbers of women in parliament”.
Role of Peace Council
A representative of the Peace Council, Joana Opare, said the council had played a significant role in ensuring the country remained peaceful despite difficult moments faced during elections.
She said although there were three women on the Peace Council Governing Board, they had demonstrated the capacity to help address women’s issues and promote the course of peace.
Mrs Opare said coupled with other initiatives such as the Women's Situation Room started in 2016, her outfit had proven to be useful in advocating peaceful elections.
She said other programmes such as the Women's Manifesto Coalition had successfully mobilised women to demand accountability from political leaders and also promoted peaceful electoral processes.
Mrs Opare further commended the government for the eventual passage of the Affirmative Action Bill, which when implemented, would ensure women get the needed leverage and representation at places of authority.
Commitment
The Commandant of KAIPTC, Major General Richard Addo-Gyane, expressed the commitment of the institution in promoting peace before, during and after the elections.
“We believe women have a critical role to play and we urge everyone to support them as much as they can.
“We also urge women to take up opportunities to participate meaningfully in all stages of the electoral process,” he said.
Maj. Gen. Addo-Gyane said research findings from UN WOMEN indicated that negotiated peace was 20 per cent more sustainable when women were involved.