Group picket for peace in Cape Coast

A group, calling itself Movement for Peaceful Ghana, last week embarked on a peace march through the principal streets of Cape Coast.

The protest march was aimed at raising awareness among residents on the need for peace during this year’s elections in December.

The match, which started from Siwdu, a suburb of Cape Coast, through to the Cape Coast township, and ended at the Ghana Commercial Bank at Kingsway, formed part of measures by the group to ensure peaceful elections in the country.

It was characterised by drumming and dancing while the protesters wielded placards that read: “We don’t want war; Victory for Mills in 2012; Vote for peaceful President in 2012; Shame all die be die; Peace is important in 2012; We don’t want all die be die and Ghana needs peace” among others.

Addressing the people, the leader of the group, John Quayson, popularly known as “Manoma,” stressed the need for peace in the country during the elections to portray to the whole world that Ghana has come of age in its democratic dispensation.

He urged all Ghanaians, particularly politicians to make peace be their hall mark in their every day activity and make it manifest in their campaigns to enable the country go to the polls with a serene atmosphere.

He noted that many African countries have the potential to develop at any rate it deems fit but for the lack of peace which hinders the progress and development of a nation.

The Director of Communications for the group, Mr. James Eshun, indicated that the group does not belong to any political party and urged all who are interested to join to advocate for peace.

According to him, this year’s election is for peace and advised Ghanaians to shun deviant behaviours which have the tendency to brew violence.

He charged Ghanaians to shun the ‘all die be die’ mantra and vote for a peaceful president.

For his part, the Director of Operations for the Movement and the Public Relations Officer (PRO) at the Central Regional Coordinating Council, Mr. Ike Afenyi Donkor, advised new voters to register when Electoral Commission (EC) to pave way for the biometric registration to enable them exercise their franchise.

He maintained that peace should be paramount in this year’s elections in order not to repeat wars and atrocities that are going on in neighbouring African countries.