CENSODEV promotes peaceful elections in UE/R
Braimah Sanjage, the Executive Director of the Centre for Social Mobilisation and Sustainable Development (CENSODEV), a civil society organisation (CSO), has embarked on an initiative to whip up interest of citizens, and to promote peace, before, during and after the December General Election, in the Upper East Region.
The initiative is one of the cardinal policies of CENSODEV, which is based in the Upper East Region, over the years, dedicated to creating and strengthening grassroots network alliances and self-help associations for building community resilience and committed to advancing democracy at all levels, committed to working alongside partners in Ghana and beyond, to strengthen and improve the existing electoral processes.
Addressing the master artisans at Tongo in the Talensi District including, tailors, hairdressers, weavers, auto mechanics, welders and fabricators, Mr Sanjage said Ghana was currently grappling with high political tension, pointing out that the Upper East Region was one of the poorest regions in Ghana yet, the area continued to experience conflicts that posed a serious challenge to the development.
“For example, the century-old Bawku conflict has already displaced at lot of people and many lives were lost. Bawku which was the business hub of the region is now like a cemetery, the just-ended Kandiga Doba dispute has left lots of pain and displacement of ordinary people which is going to take a long time to recover,” he added.
Mr Sanjage noted that “Burkina Faso our close neighbour is battling with activities of the Jihadis and currently ranked one on the Global Terrorism Index of 2024. Deaths in the Sahel constituted 47 per cent of the global total of terrorism deaths in 2023, compared to just one per cent in 2007. Over the past 15 years, the number of deaths due to terrorism in the Sahel has increased by 2,860 per cent.”
He said “The increasing communal frustration over the lack of economic development gave room for terrorist organisations to recruit people in Burkina Faso, due to disillusionment about the stagnating economy. “
Mr Sanjage, therefore, appealed to women especially, to make themselves peace ambassadors in their various households, homes, communities and work places, and preach tolerance, peace, love and understanding.
He also urged the people to stick to the “See Something Say Something” mantra and report any suspicious occurrence in their communities, to prevent the spillage of the heightened risk of terrorist attacks.
The CSO with support from International Republican Institute (IRI), and funding from the USAID’s Political Accountability Activity (POLA) and other partners, had conducted voter mobilisation activities, to help get vulnerable groups participate effectively by getting their names onto the voter register, to give them the opportunity to exercise the franchise in the elections.
The project covers five regions: the Upper East, Upper East, North East, Bono East and Western.
CENSODEV using information, education and communication (IEC) materials and media engagements, increased the participation of the vulnerable in the socio-political development of Ghana.
This was through greater citizens’ participation in governance targeting especially, the vulnerable, women, youth and tribal minorities at all levels, to achieve transparency and duty bearer accountability in leadership.
BY TIMES REPORTER
