Damongo – 12th November, 2024.
Inter-religious and ethnic tolerance is an essential commodity for peaceful coexistence as Ghana prepares for the 2024 December elections. This is necessary because peace leads to development. Ghana has enjoyed eight different successful elections from 1992 to 2020 without any violent conflicts.
Pastor Kenneth Kwakye Marfo, Head Pastor of the Church of Pentecost, Damongo, said this during a dialogue session with various political parties in Damongo on 12th November, 2024.
Delivering under the topic religious tolerance, Pastor Kenneth Kwakye Marfo noted “Inter-faith tolerance is crucial for peace and coexistence because we are stronger together and our diversity is our greatest strength”.
He noted that religion is a set of beliefs, values, practices, related to the super natural divine or sacred.
Ethnicity is related to a person’s identity based on their culture, national, linguistics and national heritage, emphasizing that although we are from different ethnic groups, we come together to solve problems, attend social gatherings and do a lot of things together.
“Belonging to different ethnic groups doesn’t call for fight and divisions amongst us but it is a source of peace, unity, strength and power. When there’s strength, there’s power”.
The ability to accept and respect individuals from diverse religions and families backgrounds, ethnicities amongst us is the way to promote and maintain peace. Recognizing the values of their differences and promoting harmony in the process.
Respect one another without discrimination because we are all one with different ethnic backgrounds and values yet serving the same or similar purposes in life.
“We are entreating each and everyone to try and see each other as a brother, sister and family members. This will limit the rate of violent conflicts amongst us. Maintaining peace in Ghana is a must and therefore all us must contribute towards peace
Ghana is the center of peace in West Africa and everyone looks up to us to show the way”.
He backed his called for love towards each other by linking participants to quotations from religion.
Show compassion and kindness towards all creations ( PBUH, Prophet Mohammed).
The right of others are sacred and we must respect them (Imam Ali)
Love thy neighbor as you love yourself (Bible).
Blessed are the peace makers for they will be called children of God.(Matthew 5/9)
Mr Mohammed Ibrahim, West Gonja municipality’s NCCE Director said the key difference between misinformation and disinformation is that misinformation is false or inaccurate information that is unintentionally spread. While disinformation is false or misleading information that is intentionally spread with the purpose of deceiving or manipulating others
He explained that such information has some effects on citizens; undermining the democratic process,
harmful to platforms, conspiracy theories and hate speech, spread of false information and discrediting scientific findings, example is Covid-19 vaccines and the myths surrounding them.
Mohammed Ibrahim said providing accurate information, foster collaboration by establishing partnerships with social media Platform and fact checking organizations to address and Verify false claims will go a long way to solve this problem.
Document and monitor every information instead of immediately reparting false information without fact check, he added.
The NCCE, under the European Union (EU) Supported Preventing and Containing Violent Extremism (PCVE) project, is engaging community members, youth and women groups, security agencies, schools, religious and traditional leaders, among others to sensitize the citizens about the activities of Violent Extremism.
In line with the main objective of PCVE, which is to Prevent and Contain Violent Extremism through Promotion of Social Cohesion, Peace and Tolerance in the five (5) northern regions and other hotspots in Ghana, these engagements with the youth groups are aimed at ensuring that the youth understand the negative consequences of joining violent extremists’ groups and appreciate the legal framework that bars the activities of violent extremist and terrorist groups.
The NCCE regional director appealed to political actors to practice and promote peace for sustainable development. He added that conducting elections and transition power from one political party to the other is, a big plus for Ghana and the current crop of politicians must sustain the due process.
Ghana is the bedrock of peace in West Africa and must do everything to protect it for this and next generation.
Groups were assigned to brainstorm and make presentations.
Money in politics or vote buying, how do we put a stop to it?
How do we counter mis/disinformation?
Religious and ethnic tolerance, how do we promote it?
Election violence prevention and related activities.
Participants were drawn from various political parties.
