WOMEN TO RESOLVE DAGBON CRISIS

August 16, 2004 - (Accra Mail) Mrs Janet Adama Mohammed, Director of the Northern Sector Office of the Christian Council of Ghana, on Friday called on the Government and other stakeholders to involve women in the resolution of the Dagbon crisis.

She said, "The time has come for the Government and civil society organisations to give women of Dagbon the chance to contribute to the finding of lasting peace for their homeland"

Mrs Mohammed was speaking at a two-day conflict resolution and peace-building workshop, organised for women leaders and representatives of political parties at Tolon in the Tolon-Kumbungu District.

The participants were taken through, conflict analysis, various forms of conflicts, effects of conflicts and the response to conflicts.

Mrs Mohammed urged the authorities to seek the views of Dagbon women in finding a lasting solution to the crisis, "since it is women who manage affairs during and after conflicts".

She expressed regret that only men in some communities in the Northern part of Ghana usually take communal decisions, while the women are relegated to the background. "This does not augur well for the development of modern day society."

Mrs Mohammed urged women in Dagbon to support their male counterparts in ensuring peace in the area "since it is always women and children who suffer most in conflict situations".

She called on the government to empower women politically and economically and to ensure that they are represented at all levels of decision-making.

Mrs Mohammed called for representation of women on the Regional Houses of Chiefs to enable women to contribute to the development of women and children.

Mr Abukari A. Baako, Tolon/Kumbungu District Chief Executive, supported the suggestion that women should be involved in the peace process in Dagbon.

He said, "As we all know, Dagbon needs sustainable peace and this will require the efforts of the government, civil society organizations, the media and other stakeholders, including women to achieve this goal".

Mr Baako urged Ghanaians to ensure peace before, during, and after the 2004 election. "Party politics should not divide us but rather unite us for national development ".

Mrs Zaratu Abdul-Rahmani, President of Women in Peace Building in Northern Region, urged Dagbon women to come out with positive decisions that could assist in bringing peace to the area.

She noted that women create about 70 per cent of the wealth of families in Northern Ghana, and expressed regret that during conflicts, economic activities are disrupted, resulting in poverty, illiteracy and diseases.

From: http://allafrica.com/stories/200408161668.html