The Programme for Christian-Muslim Relations in Africa (PROCMURA) in partnership with the Christian Council of Ghana, has kickstart a three-day conference focused on peace and peaceful coexistence in the lead-up to Ghana’s 2024 general elections.
The conference, dubbed “Peace and Peaceful Coexistence: Ghana’s Election 2024 in Focus,” is targeted to protect the peace in Ghana while promotion harmony among the Ghanaian people before, during, and after the December 7th, 2024, elections.
The three-day conference, which is being organized at the Ebenezer Methodist Church in Techiman, will bring together various stakeholders.
Day one of the program, will be a seminar for Chiefs and Queens of the Techiman Traditional Area, day two, which is slated on Wednesday, 16th October, 2024, will be a seminar for Christian and Muslim leaders within the Techiman South Municipality and the final day, Thursday, 17th October, 2024, will be a seminar for Christian and Muslim youth as well as woken in both religion.
Day one of the event, featured keynote speeches on Sacral kingship and the establishment of peace for all people, the role of the Muslim Chiefs in establishing peace and fostering peaceful coexistence and the challenges for peace and peaceful coexistence in Africa: the PROCMURA experience and what Ghana can learn from it.
The Christian Council of Ghana and PROCMURA believe that the conference will play a crucial role in fostering a culture of peace and tolerance in Ghana, which is essential for the successful conduct of the 2024 general elections.
The Techiman Zongo Chief, Alhaji Hashiru Alhassan, encouraged the youth in the Zongo communities to desist from any action that will bring the name of the Zongo Community into disrepute.
According to him, the leaders of the Zongo communities have been holding series of seminars for the residents and hope that the youth will adhere to all advices on peace and peaceful coexistence.
“What I want to tell our bredrin in the Zongo communities to always remember that, we are but visitors in this world and we will one day leave without any of our possessions, so they should always do things that will lead to peace and not violence.
“We have held series of seminars on peace but somethings they intend to do the opposite of what we have been preaching, we sometimes wonder if they pay heed to the advice we have been given them. I want them to fear Allah and remember that even if a single soul is lost due to their actions, they will account for it on the judgement day.”
Alhaji Hashiru Alhassan urged all and sundry especially leaders of the various political parties to accept the results of the upcoming elections in good fate since the winners of the upcoming Parliamentary and Presidential elections have already been decided by God.
“We all have the believe that it is only God who appoints a chief and in this instance the winners of this year’s elections, we will only be going to the polling station to exercise our franchise so we should believe and trust in God’s judgement and accept the results of the upcoming elections in a good fate.
“We will once again plead with the youth to be agents of peace, we don’t want what happened during the last elections to repeat itself, the incidents of the last elections dented the image of Techiman and we have to ensure that such practices does not repeat itself.” He said.
On behalf of the Paramount Chief of the Techiman Traditional Area, Oseadeyo Akumfi Ameyaw IV, Nana Kwame Baafi I, expressed his profound gratitude to the leaders of Programme for Christian-Muslims Relations in Africa (PROCMURA) for organizing the peace conference.
According to him, the Techiman Traditional Council have put measures in place to ensure that, peace reigns in Techiman before, during, and after the December 7th polls.
Nana Kwame Baafi I, advised the youth in Techiman to vote base on informed decision and not be stooges for political parties as the country gears towards the December polls.
“Elections happens every four years in our country and we always put in measures to ensure that we will have a peaceful elections, in 2020, the Techiman Traditional Council invited all the political parties and advised them against electoral violence but at the end of the elections, some party members went against our advice and we all didn’t like the end result.
“We lost some precious souls in Techiman and we don’t want that to happen again that is why we are commending PROCMURA for organizing this conference in Techiman, we the traditional leaders will continue to advise our people to respect and tolerate the views of others, go to the polls in peace and return in peace.
“I will urge the youth not to sell their conscience to any political party, they should not act as stooges for political parties but rather ensure that they will rather protect the peace and harmony in Techiman and Ghana at large.” He said.
Nana Kwame Baafi I, also appealed to journalist to be circumspective in their reportage and ensure that they become agents of peace during, before, and after the 2024 general elections.
“I will urge journalist to also report nothing but the truth, they should be circumspective in their reportage because journalists also have a major role to play in this year’s elections and they have to protect the peace and unity we are enjoying in the country.” Nana Kwame Baafi I disclosed
The General Advisor for Programme for Christian-Muslim Relations in Africa, Bishop Nathan Samwini, in an interview with the media, explained the motive behind the three day peace conference. He said “Our main aim is to ensure that the peaceful coexistence between Christians and Muslims continue to thrive in the country. We invited our traditional leaders today and share ideas on how best we can maintain and promote peace in our country.”
According to him, ROCMURA decided to host this year’s peace conference in Techiman due to the unfortunate incident that happened in the Municipality during the 2020 general elections which led to the death of some constituents
“We decided to organize this year’s program in Techiman mainly because of what happened in Techiman during the last general elections, some people lost their lives as a result of electoral violence and that is something we we don’t want to happen again not only in Techiman but Ghana at large.
Bishop Nathan Samwini continued, “we will meet the Clergy and Imams tomorrow and God willing on Thursday, we will meet the youth and political leaders in Techiman and educate them on the need to protect the peace and harmony in the country”
Source: Elvisanokyenews.com
