A Non-Governmental Organization that deals with supporting girl child education and empowering the youth, Auntie is Merkezi Organization (AIMO) has disclosed that its discussion with the youth on why they engage in electoral violence revealed these youths do so to maintain their romantic relationships.
President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Auntie is Merkezi Organization (AIMO), Gladys Biney in an interview with Samuel Eshun said: “The youth accept my message because if you go to programmes the youths come to talk to you and say they do this because they need to keep their relationships intact so they need money to take care of their girlfriends. So at that critical point, you can be influenced by money to engage in electoral violence”.
She notes that the Ghanaian youths are more focused on building other people’s future through electoral violence than building their own future.
“They don’t think about how their violence can affect their future aspirations to become leaders in the country. If we live our life well we can also be Presidents or MPs. If you go into violence, you can be maimed or killed and that will be a burden on your family”, she added.
Gladys advised the youths to focus on improving their lives rather than engaging in electoral violence.
Meanwhile, the Auntie is Merkezi Organization in collaboration with the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) and the National Peace Council is set to organize a National Youth for Peace Summit to engage young people on the need for peace ahead of the December 7 elections.
By: Alberta Dorcas N D Armah
