Accra, Sept. 15, GNA - The Tiereber Association of Wa Catholic Diocese on Saturday celebrated its 10th mass anniversary with a called on Ghanaians for peace, before, during and after December 7 elections.

"We urge all sons and daughters of this country to conduct themselves in a manner that will not drag our good reputation into the mud as a result of any election-related violence." Mr Ernest Beinpuo, President of the Association addressing the gathering said the Association is geared towards youth empowerment through education.

He said their vision was also to live in a country where all children would realised their full potential in societies that respect people's right and dignity.

Mr Beinpuo said over the years, the Association focussed its activities on human capital development of brilliant but needy students within some pilot communities within the Wa diocese to secure education by providing scholarships and a sustainable way of fighting poverty. Last year it extended the coverage from the initial pilot scheme to cover the entire Wa diocese and also to extend the span of the scholarship offered to students in their first year to cover the entire educational levels at the Senior High School (SHS) as well as tertiary, based on consistent good academic performance of the beneficiaries. The President of the Association said as at now, five of such students are currently on the scheme, studying in various SHS across the Upper West Region while it had also offered a stop-gap support to enable five students to enter tertiary institutions such as the polytechnics, nursing training colleges and the universities. Mr Beinpuo said the greatest challenge facing the association is how to raise funds to support and sustain the activities of the Association.

He therefore appealed to the government, non-governmental organisations and philanthropists to contribute to support and sustain the efforts of the Association to help eradicate poverty in the region, which is rated second in the country.

The President of the Association paid tribute to some institutions and individuals who, in diverse ways assisted the Association to come so far.

Most Rev Dr. Paul Bemile, Bishop of the Wa Catholic Diocese, in a sermon called on political leaders to avoid inflammatory statements that would bring chaos and violence into the country He urged them to tolerate each others' view during their campaigning. 15 Sept. 08