The Bawku Senior High School, in the Bawku Municipality of the Upper East Region, has held its annual non-denominational prayer service to pray for peace in Bawku.
The theme for this year's service was: "Prayer for peace in the Bawku Municipality and its environs."
The objective of the service was to enable the school community to add its voice to the clarion call by the state and non- governmental
organisations for an end to the hostilities in the Municipality.
A statement issued by Mr. Apaabey Baba, Municipal Director of the National Commission for Civic Education said the programme brought together the Bawku Inter-ethnic Peace Committee, the Faith Dialogue Committee and the students to share Islamic and Christian intercessory prayers for peace.
Welcoming the community of worshipers, the Headmaster of the school Mr. Bismarck Simon Kpuli noted that the non-denominational prayer service has become an integral part of the school's calendar.
Mr. Kpuli said the ethnic conflict had stalled commercial activities, social cohesion and socio-economic development.
He reminded the people of Bawku of the collective responsibility towards ensuring and sustaining a violence-free atmosphere for the moral, spiritual and academic development of children in the area.
He called on the people to join the school community in praying to God to restore the peace in Bawku to enable the children who are future leaders have access to uninterrupted educational opportunities.
Mr Thomas Abilla who delivered a peace message on behalf of the Bawku Naaba, (Chief of Bawku) lauded the initiative.
He reminded the students of the laws of the land, which does not permit one to take another person's life.
Mr Abilla warned that breakers of the law would be arrested and prosecuted.
The Municipal Director of Education, Mr. Leonodas Dakura urged the students to be law abiding and show respect to one another to foster peace in the area.
He noted that peace is a process that requires sustained and concerted effort by all parties to bring it about.