OLA TO SENSITISE YOUTH TO VIOLENCE-FREE ELECTION (p.13) 06-09-08

Story: Kofi Yeboah

THE Ola Youth Association (OYA), a non-governmental organisation (NGO) based in Cape Coast in the Central Region, has initiated a programme to sensitise the youth to the need to desist from violence during this year’s electioneering.
The programme include public forums and visitation to communities and schools to interact with the youth, especially students, and sensitise them to the need to promote peace.
An official of OYA, Ms Doris Boateng, who made this known to the Daily Graphic, said the essence of the programme was to let the youth understand that they would be the worst affected in the event of violence and conflict.
"We are preparing very well towards the forthcoming elections, not in support of any political party, but to promote peace among the people, especially the youth", she said.
The Ola Youth Association was established in 2006 with the objective of helping the youth to desist from violence and crime, while developing their potential for better prospects in the future.
Cape Coast, the capital of the Central Region, appears to be one of the constituencies that is generating keen contest among the political parties in the run-up to the December elections.
Ms Boateng said invariably, contests of that nature degenerated into violence and conflict, adding that the youth were the most vulnerable in such situations.
"Our motive, therefore, is to help the youth protect themselves during times of conflict and violence, especially this year’s elections", she said.
Ms Boateng said there was no need for the youth to fight among themselves simply because they belonged to different political persuasions.
She advised the youth to engage in healthy political discourse devoid of insults and rancour, stressing that "everybody is entitled to his or her own opinion, so you just go straight to the point and talk about your own party".
Ms Boateng said the association also sensitised the general public to the need to promote peace and avoid conflict.
"We also inform the public about the benefits of religious, ethnic, geographical and political tolerance,” she added.