Election 2024: YILT Africa Engages Stakeholders to Commit to Peace and Unity

Youth in Leadership Transformation (YILT) Africa has organized a National Unity and Peace Symposium aimed at curbing divisive rhetoric that threatens Ghana’s democracy.

The campaign seeks to foster tolerance, socio-political coexistence, transparency, inclusivity, dialogue, and accountability. It also promotes civic education and discourages political and tribal extremism to ensure a peaceful election process through proactive civic engagement.

The symposium, held at Pentecost University on Saturday, September 7, 2024, had the theme “Get the Youth Involved.”

It attracted various dignitaries, including representatives of the Speaker of Parliament, the Chief Justice, the National Commission for Civic Education Chairperson, the National Chief Imam, the Inspector General of Police, presidential candidates, and youth leaders.

The Executive Director of YILT Africa, Prosper Evergreen Ahlijah, in his welcome remarks noted that the 2024 elections could be more competitive and challenging than previous ones, possibly leading to increased polarization.

He urged Ghanaians, particularly the youth, to participate in the election and vote for their future devoid of violence and illegal conducts.

***PROSPER EVERGREEN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, YILT AFRICA***

He charged the stakeholders of the election, especially the presidential candidates, to engage in dialogue, seek collaborative solutions, and strive for a more inclusive and peaceful future.

A speech on behalf of Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Torkornoo expressed hope for future elections to be seen as routine democratic activities, free from violence.

Similarly, the Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin in a speech read on his behalf called on all stakeholders to act responsibly to preserve peace and protect Ghana’s democracy, stressing the importance of maintaining national unity before, during, and after the 2024 elections.

Other speakers from the Ghana Police Services, the National Commission of Civic Education (NCCE), among other stakeholders charged the youth and electorates in general to respect the laws and the regulation of the election process to vote their preferred candidates.

ACP Abass Al-Meyao Kwarassey, of the Form Police Unit of Police Services advised the youth and Ghanaians to avoid any action or inactions that would lead to conflict before, during and after the election as election conflicts occurred in other countries led to total economic shutdown in those areas.

Presidential candidates, including Dr. Hassan Ayariga of the All People’s Congress, Kofi Akpaloo of the Liberal Party of Ghana, and independent candidates such as Elder Paul Perkoh and Seth Ntim Agyarko, along with the Ghana Police Service, pledged their commitment to peaceful elections.

This symposium marks the culmination of YILT Africa’s National Unity and Peace Campaign.

A key subsidiary event of the campaign, “The Youth Decides,” was held in collaboration with the Political Science Student Associations of the University of Ghana and Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) on June 12 and July 12, 2024, respectively.