The Christian Council of Ghana and Programme for Christian-Muslim Relations in Africa (PROCMURA) has climaxed a three-day conference focused on peace and peaceful coexistence in the lead-up’s 2024 general elections by meeting the youth and some political figures at the Techiman Methodist Church.
The three-day conference aimed to promote understanding among different communities and religious bodies bodies in the country while encouraging them to prioritize peace in their interactions with their neighbors.
The event, titled “Peace and Peaceful Coexistence: Ghana’s Election 2024 in Focus,” started on last Tuesday, 15th October, 2024 with a seminar for Chiefs and Queens of the Techiman Traditional Area, day two of the conference was on Wednesday, 16th October, 2024 with a seminar for Christians and Muslim Leaders.
The final day, which was Thursday, 17th October, 2024, was a seminar for Christian and Muslim Youth and Christian and Muslim women under the theme: The Role of Muslim and Christian Youth and Women in the Promotion of Peace and Peaceful Coexistence.
The event, brought together youth and political leaders in Techiman to discuss the importance of maintaining peace and harmony in the country before, during, and after the December 7th election.
A Lecturer at the Department of Religion and Human Development, Faculty of Social Science at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Dr. Margaret Makafui Tayvia, lectured the participants on the role of Muslim and Christian youth, women in the promotion of peace and peaceful coexistence in society and the nation at large.
Alhaji Dr. Adam Yunus, who is a Development and Social Policy Analyst and doubles as a Researcher, Adjunct Lecture and Head of Research and Programs at Baraka Policy Institute, during the program made a presentation on the essence of peace in Islam as embodied in the Qur’an and the Sunnah of the Prophet.
The Acting Deputy Rector of the Akrofi-Christaller Intitute (ACI), Dean of Continuing Educatino and Director of the Center of Interfaith Studies and Engagement in Africa (CISEA) of the Akrofi-Christaller Institute, Rev. Dr. Johnson A. Mbillah, lectured on the essence of peace in the Bible and in the person of Jesus Christ.
Speaking to the media after the event, Alhaji Dr. Adam Yunus, explained that, elections is one of the major sources of conflicts in Africa hence the need to educate the citizenry on peace and peaceful coexistence.
According to him, Muslims and Christians constitute the majority of Ghana’s population and if faithful of both religions come to understand and appreciate peaceful coexistence, then electoral violence will not be an issue in the country.
Dr. Yunus further explained that, both Christianity and Islam are from the Abrahamic religion and therefore there is the need for them to live in peace and harmony.
“Elections has been one of the major reasons for conflicts in Africa so it is always important to educate the populace about the need for peace during, before, and after any elections.”
“When can only have peace in the country when there is what we called peaceful coexistence among ourselves. If you look at the population of Ghana, Christians and Muslims forms more than 90% of the entire population.”
“The relationship between Muslims and Christians is very close so we always have the believe that we can unite and ensure peaceful coexistence through religion because both Christianity and Islam is from the same root that is the Abrahamic fate, so we are all worshiping the same Supreme God.”
“If we all get to understand that our religion is from the same root and we are all the same people, then there will be no need for them to fight among themselves and by so doing, we can achieve peace in the country during, before, and after the elections.”
“We believe that if we can educate the majority of our population that is the Muslims and Christians to understand that they are all one people, then we believe politics won’t be able to separate us let alone allow us to fight among ourselves.” Alhaji Dr. Adam Yunus said
On his part, the General adviser of PROCMURA who doubles as a Senior Lecturer in Christian-Muslim Relations, Head of Department, and Dean of the Faculty of Social Science at KNUST, Rt. Rev. Dr. Nathan Iddrisu Samwini, urged all participants to put what they have learn at the conference into practice.
He also plead with them to be agents of peace and peaceful coexistence in their communities as they propagate the messages they have heard at the conference to their neighbors,
“We thank God for a successful program and we are also very grateful to the Techiman Traditional Council, Local Council of Churches, Imams, the Police Service, the youth, and all the participants for gracing the occasion.
“The Bible says we should not be just the listeners of the word but rather doers with the word, so I will plead with all the participants and those that will hear us from the various media platforms not to just listen to what we are telling them but they should act on what we have told them.
“We can’t have peace and peace coexistence when there is a misunderstanding in our community, we should learn to tolerate the ideas of others, when we don’t share the same ideas with others it does not mean we should fight them.
“Peace is something that we seek for and lucky for us in Ghana, we have peace so we should protect it by all means.
PROCMURA expressed hope that the conference would have a positive impact on the political climate in Ghana and inspire political leaders and citizens alike to prioritize peace and unity as they called on all Ghanaians to come together and work towards a peaceful and prosperous future.
Source: Elvisanokyenews.com
