In the final days leading up to the 2024 general elections, members of ACI Ghana participated in a peace walk dubbed “One Nation, One People” to promote peace before, during, and after the polls.
The walk held on Saturday, November 30, began at the 37 Military College of Nursing and Midwifery, continuing through Stanbic Heights, Airport Roundabout, Airport View Hotel, and back.
Explaining the rationale for the initiative, ACI Ghana President Lawrence Osilaja Boampong emphasised that this was not the association’s first peace advocacy effort.
“In 2016, we embarked on a similar walk during the build-up to the general elections. As a body that plays a pivotal role in Ghana’s financial markets, we believe a peaceful environment is critical for economic growth and investor confidence.”
While a similar event could not be organised in 2020 due to administrative challenges, Mr. Boampong highlighted the association’s renewed commitment in 2024. “Better late than never,” he said.
“We saw the opportunity and decided to contribute to the call for peace because peace is everyone’s responsibility.”
He encouraged Ghanaians to actively uphold a peaceful atmosphere and accept the election outcome as God’s will for the nation. “Everyone has a role to play. Vote and go back home peacefully. Whoever wins the polls is who God has chosen for us. Let’s all stand for peace—peace is all we need.”
Kofi Kodua-Sarpong, a member of ACI Ghana, shared his reflections on participating in the peace walk.
He revealed that this marked his second time participating in the peace walk, having first joined in 2016. He underscored the walk’s central message of unity.
“Our message, as it was in 2016, is that we are one nation and one people. The whole idea is for us not to be divided by our politics but to remember our shared identity as Ghanaians.”
Mr. Kodua-Sarpong, who is also the CEO of Sarpong Capital, stressed the necessity of the initiative, emphasising ACI Ghana’s role as a voice for the financial markets. “We believe it is crucial to lend our voice to the call for a peaceful election,” he stated.
“Though we may support different political parties, ultimately, we are one country. Despite differing political ideologies, our focus should be on voting for peace,” he added.
The walk featured lively brass band music, a police escort, and an ambulance on standby, culminating in a feast of traditional Ghanaian dishes such as waakye and kenkey, accompanied by refreshing beverages.
ACI Ghana is the local chapter of the global Association Cambiste Internationale (ACI) Financial Markets Association, which has been dedicated to advancing best practices, ethical standards, and continuous education in financial markets for nearly 70 years. The Ghanaian chapter, established in 2013, has actively contributed to the country’s financial market stability through advocacy and training.
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