Dr. Kwadjo Afari Gyan, Chairman of the Electoral Commission (EC), has appealed to Ghanaians to give peace a chance, saying, 'peace and stability was needed to enhance the moral, social and spiritual upbringing of children.
In a speech read for him at a day's prayer summit in Accra by Rev. Stephen Mawuli Apreku, the Human Resource Manager and General Services Department of the EC, said children need to grow and fulfil their dreams and to also take up the mantle of future leadership.
Rev. Apreku said the ravages of war that affected children in Liberia, Sierra-Leone and Cote d' Ivoire should serve as a wake up call for parents.
The summit was organised at the weekend by the Royal Protocol Service, a Christian oriented organisation supported by the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, dubbed: "When Children Pray For A Peaceful Election".
Ms Freda Ofori, the children's Event Coordinator of the service said the summit was organised to bring all children between the ages of 8 and 17, to seek divine intervention from God for a peaceful election in December and beyond.
She said the summit was a national programme and non-denominational, which would be replicated in the rest of the 10 regions before the elections.
Ms Ofori said Women and children suffered most when there was any political unrest, with most of them becoming victims of school drop outs and orphans.
She urged all children to ensure a violent free election and fair elections by influencing their parents and relatives to refrain from any electoral violence.
She entreated supporters of various political parties to abide by the dictates of the 2008 political parties code to avoid conflicts and violence.
The summit attracted about 30 Junior High Schools (JHS), including the Osu Presby 2, Burma Camp, Ringway Estate, Independent Avenue and Ahmadiyya Mission Schools.
The children prayed for the political leaders, parties, the EC, Ministers of State, the nation and the youth.
Some of the children entertained the audience with poetry recitals, drama and music.