Jasikan (V/R), April 6, GNA- Mr Isaka Buraima, President for the Coalition for Peace and Development in Buem ((COPADIB), a peace and development focused non-governmental organization, on Saturday reiterated the call on political parties and their supporters to ensure peace during the 2008 Election in December.

He appealed to Ghanaians to be guided by political violence that occurred in Cote D'lvoire, Liberia some other African countries and ensure that peace prevailed before, during and after the elections. Mr Buraima who was addressing this year's mini Buem Congress at Jasikan in the Jasikan District in the Volta Region, advised political parties that would be contesting the polls to conduct their electioneering campaigns decently and devoid of violence. He said peace and unity remained the foundation for development and urged politicians to propagate the message of peace since their utterances could either divide or bring the people together for progress. "We must know that it is only when the mind is free that one can think of development and that if there is no peace, there would be no togetherness," Mr Buraima said. He called on traditional rulers to maintain peace in their areas and not to allow any conflicts plunge their communities into confusion. Mr Buraima appealed to chiefs in the Buem Constituency to exercise maximum restrain during the elections and resolve conflicts in the area through constructive means. He said "We cannot boast of our mineral resources, neither can we rely on our forest and for that matter our cocoa and timber as legacies, the only legacy left for us is peace. Let us cherish and uphold it." Mr Buraima announced that the main Buem Congress comes off in September this year on the theme, " Buem Rediscovery: Unity and Education for Development." 6 April 08