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(Damongo)- The Speaker of Damongo Youth Parliament (DYP), Pastor Samuel Denkere Mahama has called on the youth and the general public to exhibit greater level of tolerance to help maintain the peace, growth and development of Savannah region, Ghana.
Samuel Denkere made the call at Damongo on 24th September, 2021, during NCCE’s engagement with youth groups, religious leaders, Queen mother’s, chiefs, and other stakeholders on violence extremism and how it can be curbed.
Samuel Denkere explained that the nation stand to benefit more when there is peace, cohesion and national unity and therefore urged the youth of Ghana to endured great level of “religious tolerance, political tolerance, tribal, ethnic and cultural tolerance”.
Samuel Denkere explained that tolerance is the ability or willingness to tolerate the existence of opinions or behaviour that one dislikes or disagrees with. Tolerance is being patient, understanding and accepting of anything different.
The Damongo Youth Parliament Speaker expressed gratitude to the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) and it’s partners for the vital role they are playing in Savannah region and strongly believe that NCCE’s efforts are yielding fruits and helping to enrich the peace we are currently enjoying in Savannah region.
The Savannah Region is one of the newest regions of Ghana and yet the one of largest regions in the country. The creation of the region follows presentation of a petition by the Gonja Traditional Council, led by the Yagbonwura Tutumba Bore Essa Jakpa (I). Upon receiving favourable responses from all stakeholders in the Northern Region (the region it was broken off from), the Justice Brobbey Commission (the Commission tasked with the creation of the new regions), proposed a referendum was conducted on the 27th December 2018, which the people voted 99.7% yes.
The President of the Republic of Ghana signed and presented the Constitutional Instrument (CI) 115 to the Yagbonwura in the Jubilee House, Accra on 12 February 2019.
The Savannah region has seven (7) districts; Bole, Central Gonja, North Gonja, East Gonja, Sawla/Tuna/Kalba, West Gonja, North East Gonja assembly.
As a teacher, Samuel Denkere also farms and therefore, advised the youth to venture into the available potentially viable business areas in the region.
“The region has vast arable and very fertile lands for agriculture, tourist sites such as the Larabanga Mosque, Mole National Park, Wechau Sanctuary, timber, mining potentials as well as good human resource capital that can compete anywhere in the world. I will advise the youth to try and establish yourselves in some of these viable sectors”.
The Savannah regional director for the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), Mr. A. F Umar said despite the fact that the youth in the area are made up of varied ethnic backgrounds, they still live in peace and contribute towards development.
Speaking on the topic “Promoting Peaceful Coexistence”, Mr Umar said conflict, peace and co-existence move along in ensuring total peace.
When people come into collision or disagreement, there could be conflict.
When there is freedom from war, there is peace and co-existence means living among yourselves with minimal or limited challenges.
He admonished Ghanaians to use descent language and behavior to ensure peace. Those in authority should respect the people they lead, people must understand one another beliefs, ethnic differences, do away with unfair treatment of other groups, lack of equal opportunities, bullying and harassment, undemocratic leadership can all lead to war.
When there is no peaceful coexistence, it can result to loss of lives, properties, jobs, friends, broken marriages and others, he added.
Mr. Umar urged the youth to preach peace in challenges of physical violence, structural and cultural violence to bring about change in behavior, relationship and attitudes for more participatory and inclusiveness.
The public order act and it’s process was handled by the Damongo police command.
The youth engagement on violence extremism was organized by the NCCE and partners (UNICEF).
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