The Zaare Akafabile Women’s Association (ZAWA) in the Bolgatanga Municipality of the Upper East Region has promoted community unity and peaceful elections through a clean-up exercise and a float in the municipality.
The float and clean-up exercise organized by ZAWA covered key areas such as the Zaare Chief’s Palace, Zaare Central Mosque, and the Upper East Regional Hospital, among other parts of the municipality.
This initiative, part of ZAWA’s 6th-anniversary celebrations, emphasized the crucial role women play in fostering community unity and promoting peaceful elections. The anniversary was themed: *”Community Unity and Peaceful Elections for Development: The Role of Women.”*
According to ZAWA, this year’s theme reflects the persistent challenges posed by land and chieftaincy disputes and conflicts within the Bolgatanga Municipality and the wider region. These disputes pose significant threats to peace, security, and community development.
ZAWA’s leadership highlighted that 2024, being an election year, could see unscrupulous individuals exploiting these conflicts to incite violence. They stressed that women and children are often the most affected during such conflicts, which is why the association deemed it essential to advocate for unity and peace as part of their anniversary activities.
Madam Ramatu Ayamga, a leader of the association, stated, “What we want and are calling for is peace at all times. That is why we deemed it necessary to embark on this exercise as part of our 6th-anniversary celebration. The reason we are so concerned is that, in times of conflict, it is we, the women, who suffer the most because we are the ones running while holding our children’s hands. That is why we want peace in our communities.”
Iddrisu Zelia, a group member, added, “As we prepare to elect our leaders, all we want is peace. Without peace, the people we vote for cannot bring the development we need. This is why we are calling for peace. We are pleading with everyone in Bolga, the Upper East Region, and Ghana as a whole to let us have peace.”
The Zaare Akafabile Women’s Association (ZAWA) was established in 2018 by a group of 100 women, including widows, single mothers, and married women. Its main goal is to empower members economically through self-help initiatives to improve their livelihoods.
The economic activities of ZAWA members include basket weaving, farming, agro-processing, livestock rearing, and petty trading.
The anniversary celebrations will culminate on Saturday, November 16, 2024, at the Zaare-Ayoorebiisi community.
Source: A1Radioonline.Com | 101.1MHZ | David Azure | Bolgatanga
