PEACE CLUB INAUGURATED

A peace club under the Conflict Transformation and Peace Studies (CECOTAPS) has been duly launched at the St. Anne’s senior High School (SAGISS) in the West Gonja District of the Northern Region.

The purpose of the programme was to promote peace building through the female at the grassroots level.

Speaking on the theme; “The role of the traditional Ghanaian Woman in promoting peace in the family” Fr. Lazaurs Annyereh noted that, the role of the traditional Ghanaian woman in promoting peace in the family is certainly a big challenge. From a general perspective, he raised the following concerns:

“The African woman has never had it easy when it comes to assuming leadership roles or managerial roles in a traditionally male – dominated, patriarchal and hierarchal society”. “A woman is always considered a woman with little or no say in the midst of men”.
The traditional Ghanaian woman is no exception he stressed. He stated the following as some utterances he has come across made by male chauvinists:

• “Care to know who is a woman?”
• “When men are talking women should keep quite because they are equal to children in the midst of men”
• “Power belongs to men and not women”

Fr. Lazurs Annyereh lamented that, utterances of this nature cannot continue to prevail in our contemporary societies where conscious efforts are made to ensure the promotion of participatory decision making and burden roles of women (reproductive, productive and managerial) cannot be left in silence.

He said women can no longer be referred to as playing a passive role in the family, society and the nation as a whole, adding that their contribution to societal development and family peace has been shelved for far too long.

He stressed that, in all fairness, women should be recognized as playing a major role in community development.

He argued that, the traditional Ghanaian women (with special reference to Northern Ghana), has a lot more to offer not just in home management, but also in the promotion of peace in the family.

He noted that, today, the world is endangered by constant violent conflicts saying, Peace has become a fragile commodity as violence is in the increase, with women and children suffering most.

He pointed out that, the men are the ones who take up the arms and fight and some of them lose their lives rendering their wives widows and their children orphans to the mercy of society.
In addition he said, many women in times of war are abused sexually and others charged with the sole responsibility of being the bread winners for their wards.

He said notwithstanding the fact that more often than not women and children are the most vulnerable in times of violent conflict; women are sometimes the perpetrators of violence. He cited instances where women have challenged their husbands to go to the battle front through provocative utterances.
He urged all to come on deck to ensure a permanent protection of human security.

According to him unable to address issues that disturb human security could lead to the provocation of human insecurity.

He said the time has come when women can no longer be seen as passive actresses regarding the promotion of peace in their families and communities, adding that
Women’s collective efforts towards peace building will reduce the volume of occurrence of barbarity in our communities.

He pointed out that just as women are sometimes the perpetrators of violence, they are equally promoters of peace. Also, he said our family set up reveals that children are mostly with their mothers who can easily transfer their knowledge and experiences to them.

In addition, he said in our traditional homes, women play a major role in the promotion of peace among their children as the men are mostly not at home but off to work or to socialize with colleagues.

According to him, experiences from women in counties like Liberia, Guinea Bissau, Sierra Leon, Cote d’ivoire and Senegal and various strategies employed by women in their efforts to manage and resolve conflicts as well as building peace gives a spark of hope as well as offers a clear demonstration that women’s presence in peace building processes make a difference.

Having them (women) enrolled in official peace building activities would be an added advantage regarding conflict prevention, resolution and transformation in our communities, homes and the youth milieu added.

He said, one of the strategies that can increase women participation in peace building is to empower them with the necessary skills. Catching them young in the schools would be an added advantage as they will make use of the skills in their school environment as leaders and peace lovers he added.

He observed that to fulfill the mission of educating young people and preparing them to function effectively in adult society, schools must first be safe places where each learner can feel physically and psychologically free from threats and danger.

He looked forward to see some of the students act as mediators in times of misunderstanding between students themselves as well as between students and staff and student leaders.
He also hoped to see the satellite peace centre of Damongo Women in peace building (WIP) offer the club members training in conflict prevention, management and mediation to enable you function properly.



BY: REGINA ATULE