The Navrongo-Bolgatanga Dioceses of the Catholic Church in the Upper East Region has commended the people of Bawku for maintaining peace in the area for the past four years. The move was to encourage people in the area to view peace as a tool for national development and practice it for the development of their communities. About 2,500 parishners, drawn from all the parishes in the dioceses, used the occasion to thank God for touching the heart of the people to give peace a chance. They took a procession through some hot spots in Bawku including Gengande, Natinga, Possum, among other areas to tell the people of the importance of peace and the need to live happily with one another. They also called on residents to continue collaborating with one another because it was the only way they could redirect their fortunes for the better. The parishners said forgiveness should be one of the good virtues that residents should cultivate because vengeance would only destroy what they had toiled for over the years. Mrs. Lucy Awini, former Deputy Upper East Regional Minister and leading member of the congregation, urged the people to put God first before any other thing. Mrs. Awini said the area was a business community and that there was the need for people to stop hurting one another and concentrate on their businesses opportunities available in order to develop. She noted that the visit to Bawku by the dioceses would be an annual affair so as to keep reminding them of the importance of peace. Madam Modesta Nbon Ayiiga, President of the Christian Mothers Association noted that God’s love was above all and that to practice peace there was the need for all to acknowledge him so as to enable them live in peace. She said in doing this, each and every one must understand the need to practice peace since it was the surest way to live in happiness. Madam Ayiiga called on other peace loving organizations to emulate the activities of the church in order to help people living in that area to understand the need for peace.