Women in the farming community of Nabango in the Kasena Nankana West of the Upper East Region took to the principal streets of the community in a peace walk. crying out for peace, the women started the process in the market square and ended it up at the Nabango chief palace.
According to the Peace Queen Mrs. Aduko Ananuure, the Upper East Region over the years has suffered a lot of conflicts in many communities notably the Bolga chieftaincy conflicts, the Bawku Chieftaincy conflict between the Kusaasi and Mamprusi and most recently the land dispute between the people of Doba and Kandiaga which they say has affected the lives especially women and children as well destruction of properties.
“Women are always victims of gender-based violence and violence against women continues to destroy the lives of women and girls in our community. Due to lack of education and skills, poverty is more pervasive among women. Conflicts worsen the already precarious situation that women face. Consequently, in order to promote gender equality and women rights, we need peace. We prefer that we fight for peace before we fight for justice, then, we fight for justice before we fight for equality. Lasting peace depends on equal rights, equal opportunity and the equal participation of women. We must engage women and harness their potential if we are to achieve the ambitious vision enshrined in the Sustainable Development Goals. With peace, we can conquer and rule the world. Peace is necessary not only for progress in life but for good health also.
We are concerned about increasing violence in and around our community. Violence is an ideal approach to dealing with issues. We demand that we follow appropriate channels, formal or informal to address grievances at the household, community and inter-community. Violence in one area is violence everywhere. We call for peaceful resolution of conflicts in our community and beyond. With the installation of the queen mother (Poanaab), there is no justification for men to continue to beat their wives. Men, report all issues about your wives to us for redress: together with Chief, we shall build happier and peaceful homes. We to use this opportunity to demand an immediate cessation of fighting in Doba and Kandiga and ask all parties to embrace peace. Peace is more valuable than all that we are fighting: after we have finished killing and destroying one another, we still have to sit down to drink water together and resolve the issue. We believe that like our ancestors did, we can live together in peace and tranquillity without any fear of harm.” She lamented
On his part, the Chief of Nabango – Naba Atugumzoya Benjamin Atubiga charged the women to lead the Crusade for peace in their marital homes by living in peace with their husbands, children and other family members.
Naba Atugumzoya promised to work hand in hand with the peace Queen in the area to ensure that peace is maintained in his Traditional area.
The peace-walk process has been sponsored by Shirigu Women of Poetry and Arts (SWOPA) with support from the Canadian Fund for Local Initiative.
Gaspard Ayuureneeya.