The Women's wing of the Peace Advocates and Voluntary Organisations Association (PAVOA) in the Upper East Region, has appealed to all ethnic, religious and political leaders not to engage in acts that would undermine the current peace being enjoyed in the country.

PAVOA, a Non-Governmental Organisation, made the appeal at a peace programme organised at Sumburungu, near Bolgatanga.

It has, over the years, been fighting and advocating against ethnicity, political intolerance, chieftaincy and land disputes. In 2008, the NGO, which is a home based one, played a major role in resolving the Bolgatanga-Sirigu and Yikene conflict.

Ms Judith Nyaba Apana, Director of the Women Affairs of PAVOA, who made the appeal, indicated that the three regions would have been better developed if people did not engage in conflicts.

She cited Bawku, for instance, and said but for the conflict, Bawku, which was among the high revenue mobilisation municipalities in the country, could have been developed far better than its current state.

She cautioned the youth not to allow themselves to be used to foment trouble, stressing that when it comes to conflicts women and children were usually most affected.

Mrs Apana impressed upon women to continue to play their roles as caretakers of the home, the elderly and the marginalised, adding that God would reward them for that role.

She said over the years PAVOA had been embarking upon a lot of activities including the promotion of peace, empowerment of women and the youth, poverty reduction, rural infrastructure development, the promotion of African culture and the conservation of natural resources.

She said one of the remarkable achievement of the NGO was the rejuvenation of the extended family system which was getting extinct in most communities and stressed that PAVOA would continue to promote peace and other related development issues at the community levels.

As part of activities marking the occasion, the group composed traditional songs that preached against ethnicity, religious and political intolerance. The songs also criticized negative acts such as backbiting, rumour mongering, and laziness in society.

The occasion brought together men and women, youth and traditional leaders from different ethnic, political and religious groups to participate in the event geared towards fostering unity and cohesion.