CNC CALLS FOR CO-EXISTENCE
CNC CALLS FOR CO-EXISTENCE 22/12/09
BY PETER ATOGEWE WEDAM
ISD-BOLGATANGA MUNICIPAL
The Upper East Regional director of the Centre for National Culture [CNC], Naa Luciano M. Tungbani has called on people in the Upper East region to co-exist and tolerate one another saying many decades ago, people with diverse ethnic backgrounds have lived together without conflicts ensuing between them because they tolerated one another without any resentment and prejudice.
The CNC director made the call in a welcome address at the launch of a peace project dubbed the sustainable peace initiative project for the Upper East region under the theme “Unity in Ethnic Diversity for the Total Development of Upper East region”. The peace initiative project seeks to use music and drama to resolve conflicts in the three regions of the north.
Naa Tungbani disclosed that the CNC is receiving sponsorship from the Sustainable Peace Initiative [SPI] of the Netherlands to implement the peace initiative programme from November, 2009 to March, 2010 and added that the peace initiative will later be extended to the districts using music and drama.
The Deputy Upper East Regional minister, Mrs. Lucy Awuni who launched the programme noted that conflicts often result in loss of lives and destruction of property and eventually retard development of affected areas. She observed that in conflict areas, resources that would otherwise be channeled into development are rather diverted to the maintenance of peace and order.
The Deputy Regional minister said conflicts anywhere scare away investors and referred to the Bawku tribal clashes between Mamprusis and Kusasis saying the once busy business municipality is no longer the desired destination for many businessmen and women due to the unresolved conflict. Thus it is government’s pledge to prevent conflicts in any region and to quickly resolve conflicts as soon as they occur in order to pave the way for accelerated development.
She expressed the hope that the CNC will collaborate with traditional authorities and also use its expertise to write touchy traditional plays that will help drum home peace messages that will be appreciated by all disputants in conflict areas.
Mrs. Awuni said history and folklore have it that all ethnic groups in the three Northern regions come from a common ancestry. She therefore urged all people in these regions to see themselves as one people irrespective of the different languages they speak and different cultures they practise.
The Chairperson of the Upper East Regional Peace Advisory Council, Miss Margaret Mary Issaka in a speech noted that the different tribes residing in the region have intermarried and mixed in many different ways that nothing should be done to divide them.
Miss Issaka said violence does not benefit anybody or group therefore dialogue instead of conflict should be used to settle any misunderstanding that may from time to time ensue between people. She urged all and sundry to report any early warning signs of conflicts to the security agencies for appropriate pre-emptive actions to be taken.
She called on traditional authorities in Upper East to incorporate peace messages into their festivals which will constantly remind the region’s people on the need for peaceful co-existence.
Bolgatanga Municipal Chief Executive, Honourable Epsonah Harry Ayamga in address pledged that government and chiefs will find pragmatic measures to stop the Bawku conflict. This he said must be done quickly because if utmost care is not taken, the conflict may degenerate into a fully fledge war in other parts of the Upper East and Northern regions.
Honourable Ayamga commended the sponsors of the peace initiative for working to promote peace in the region and asked that more drama sketches should be written not only for peace but also to expose wrong doings in the society, issues on politics and chieftaincy disputes.
Students, CNC staff and members of the general public witnessed the launch of the peace initiative which was characterised by traditional music and a peace drama staged by CNC staff.
BY PETER ATOGEWE WEDAM
ISD-BOLGATANGA MUNICIPAL
The Upper East Regional director of the Centre for National Culture [CNC], Naa Luciano M. Tungbani has called on people in the Upper East region to co-exist and tolerate one another saying many decades ago, people with diverse ethnic backgrounds have lived together without conflicts ensuing between them because they tolerated one another without any resentment and prejudice.
The CNC director made the call in a welcome address at the launch of a peace project dubbed the sustainable peace initiative project for the Upper East region under the theme “Unity in Ethnic Diversity for the Total Development of Upper East region”. The peace initiative project seeks to use music and drama to resolve conflicts in the three regions of the north.
Naa Tungbani disclosed that the CNC is receiving sponsorship from the Sustainable Peace Initiative [SPI] of the Netherlands to implement the peace initiative programme from November, 2009 to March, 2010 and added that the peace initiative will later be extended to the districts using music and drama.
The Deputy Upper East Regional minister, Mrs. Lucy Awuni who launched the programme noted that conflicts often result in loss of lives and destruction of property and eventually retard development of affected areas. She observed that in conflict areas, resources that would otherwise be channeled into development are rather diverted to the maintenance of peace and order.
The Deputy Regional minister said conflicts anywhere scare away investors and referred to the Bawku tribal clashes between Mamprusis and Kusasis saying the once busy business municipality is no longer the desired destination for many businessmen and women due to the unresolved conflict. Thus it is government’s pledge to prevent conflicts in any region and to quickly resolve conflicts as soon as they occur in order to pave the way for accelerated development.
She expressed the hope that the CNC will collaborate with traditional authorities and also use its expertise to write touchy traditional plays that will help drum home peace messages that will be appreciated by all disputants in conflict areas.
Mrs. Awuni said history and folklore have it that all ethnic groups in the three Northern regions come from a common ancestry. She therefore urged all people in these regions to see themselves as one people irrespective of the different languages they speak and different cultures they practise.
The Chairperson of the Upper East Regional Peace Advisory Council, Miss Margaret Mary Issaka in a speech noted that the different tribes residing in the region have intermarried and mixed in many different ways that nothing should be done to divide them.
Miss Issaka said violence does not benefit anybody or group therefore dialogue instead of conflict should be used to settle any misunderstanding that may from time to time ensue between people. She urged all and sundry to report any early warning signs of conflicts to the security agencies for appropriate pre-emptive actions to be taken.
She called on traditional authorities in Upper East to incorporate peace messages into their festivals which will constantly remind the region’s people on the need for peaceful co-existence.
Bolgatanga Municipal Chief Executive, Honourable Epsonah Harry Ayamga in address pledged that government and chiefs will find pragmatic measures to stop the Bawku conflict. This he said must be done quickly because if utmost care is not taken, the conflict may degenerate into a fully fledge war in other parts of the Upper East and Northern regions.
Honourable Ayamga commended the sponsors of the peace initiative for working to promote peace in the region and asked that more drama sketches should be written not only for peace but also to expose wrong doings in the society, issues on politics and chieftaincy disputes.
Students, CNC staff and members of the general public witnessed the launch of the peace initiative which was characterised by traditional music and a peace drama staged by CNC staff.
Comments