Body Builders and weight lifters to march and compete for peaceful elections 2012. As part of efforts to ensure and maintain the peace of the nation during and after the 2012 elections in Ghana, House of Legends in collaboration with Helix Event Security and some gymnasium organisers in Accra have come together to stage the MACHO for PEACE 2012 competition.

The event takes place on Saturday 10 November and according to Yakubu Ibrahim, one of the organisers, the programme is to sensitise the general public that body building is never a bad thing, but rather it is a type of sporting activity that makes one very disciplined.

He said most body builders can compete in sporting activities like throwing javelin, shot putt and discuss for the nation. He wished that some jobless body builders can do other jobs likes security and other profit making ventures. Joshua Boss Boston Anafu , Event Organiser for Macho for Peace 2012 expressed that Body Builders aka Macho men have been used by politicians to intimidate opponents or disrupt events, as well as create unnecessary tension among communities during elections. He announced that HOL and HES have come together to put up the show that will attract all the major political parties in the country, namely, NDC, NPP, CPP, PPP, PNC, NDP and URP.

“We shall hold hands and walk through the principal streets of Accra to send the message of peace, that even the so called macho men are united and live peace with their political opponents,” he said.

There will be a special football gala between the macho men and political parties united team, then refreshments and musical performances will take over the day. Richard Danful spokesman for the macho men said HOL and HES wish to see a peaceful election which is violent free and wants the general public to participate to see and erase the negative perception that all macho men are agents of destruction. “We are for peace, we believe in democracy and we love Ghana, our dear country that is why we are doing this,” he noted.

Mean while, many keep fit clubs and gyms have expressed their interest in the event and are training towards the competition. Some companies have also expressed interest to support the event which takes place at the Town Council Line Park, near Zongo Junction.