Bongo (UE), June 27, GNA - The Centre for Integrated Development Initiatives(CIDI), a community-based organization, working in the interest of deprived persons, has help to reduce the spate of religious intolerance in some communities in the Bongo District of the Upper East Region.

The Project Coordinator of CIDI, Mrs. Ernestina Adu, made this known to GNA at Bongo after a durbar, organized for the People of Beo and Adaboya in the District.

She explained that CIDI, through civic right education under the Good Governance and Human Rights Project, had been able to curb the high incidence of religious intolerance in the area. Mrs. Adu noted that in the past some people in the area fought among themselves because of religious differences, which resulted in deaths, injuries and destruction of properties. "Precious lives have been lost, family tiers have been broken and loved ones have been separated because of religious differences and intolerance but now things have changed. Religious groups are now beginning to tolerate each other", she stated. Mrs. Adu said that CIDI sensitized the people and organized fund games to bring about religious tolerance among the people in the area. She traditionalists quarreled with their wives and children for attending Churches instead of worshipping with them resulting in social problems including divorces.

Mrs. Adu appealed to members of religious bodies in the area to tolerate one another since the 1992 Constitution of Ghana guarantied freedom of worship.

She commended the traditional authorities for supporting CIDI in its efforts at ensuring religious tolerance in the area. Mrs. Adu said that CIDI had sensitized people in the communities on children's rights to education, food, and shelter among others which had improved child welfare. She thanked IBIS West Africa for sponsoring the activities of CIDI and appealed to other non-governmental organization for support. 27 June 09