CONFLICTS HAVE HINDERED DEVT IN NR (PAGE 20)

CONFLICTS are part of existence. The difficulty, however, lies in the ability to manage them when they occur.
The Northern Region just like other parts of the country, has had its share of destructive conflicts over the years as a result of many factors that include greed and ignorance.
The conflicts have often revolved around ethnicity, chieftaincy, land and traditional authority. The effects of the protracted conflicts in the area over the years have been devastating.
Apart from the loss of human lives, conflicts have also succeeded in polarising affected communities and created a deep wedge of division and hatred among the people resulting in lack of development, thus worsening the poverty situation of the people.
As a result of the politicisation of conflicts in the region, any effort at finding solutions to them are sometimes viewed with suspicion by the protagonists. Political meanings are usually read into actions taken, especially by the government thus making genuine reconciliation very difficult.
It was for these reasons that the Northern Sector Office of the Christian Council of Ghana (CCG) organised a focus group discussion and a workshop on non-violent response to conflict in Tamale in the wake of this year's general election.
The participants included youth chiefs, religious bodies, traditional authorities, representatives of political parties and organised associations in the metropolis.
Among the topics discussed were understanding and responding to conflicts, relationships between conflicts, the electoral process in Ghana and sustaining the existing peace in the region in the election period.
At the close of the two-day event, the participants were unanimous in their condemnation of electoral violence and resolved to sensitise people at their respective communities and parties to always resort to dialogue to iron out their differences.
They also urged their supporters to ensure sanity in their various campaigns and other political conduct before, during and after the December general poll.
The discussants, however, called on politicians to be circumspect in their utterances, especially when they mount platforms, since some of what they say in their overzealousness could inflame passions.
The participants also underscored the need for more sensitisation programmes through meetings and the media in order for the message of violence-free elections to reach out to more people in the communities.
The Co-ordinator in charge of the Northern Sector Office of CCG, Mr James Nahyi, acknowledged that activities of political parties could be a recipe for violent clashes in the area following precedents in earlier elections.
According to Mr Nahyi, the history of presidential and parliamentary elections in Ghana since 1992 had been clouded with pre and post-election violence, especially in areas that were already engulfed with protracted conflicts.
“It is for this fact that the CCG seeks to reinvigorate her efforts as part of her social obligations and contributions at ensuring a violent free 2008 election,” he explained.
The co-ordinator further stated that the council had been involved in dialogue, consultations and shuttle diplomacy and capacity building in conflict resolution and management tools for some years now as part of its efforts at ensuring lasting peace in the area.