The Metropolitan Archbishop of Cape Coast, Most Rev. Charles Gabriel Palmer-Buckle, has underscored the importance of collective stakeholder efforts in confronting elements that threaten the peace of the country ahead of the general elections.
Speaking at a two-day forum on the Sahel Peace Initiative, the Ghana National Forum on Social Cohesion, Security, and Peaceful Election under the theme “Building a More Peaceful and Cohesive Ghana: A Collective Endeavour, Archbishop Palmer-Buckle, organised by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference, said that the Conference cannot on their own make recommendations on what will promote peace and cohesiveness in the country but will have to rely on the collective thoughts of other important stakeholders in the peacebuilding process.
“We have political parties who are here to give us a firm promise of what they intend to do for us to achieve those peaceful elections.”
“We also have, if I am not mistaken, religious leaders, political leaders; we also have traditional leaders. So it means it is for all stakeholders; that is actually what the aim of the meeting is about: that all stakeholders know that peace is a common good that we cannot sacrifice on the altar of any type of expediency except inclusivity, dialogue, tolerance, and due respect for institutional authority.”
The renowned minister, who is also a member of the administrative board of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference, asserted that it is part of the church’s core duty to seek the peace of nations.
Quoting John 14:27 of the Bible, which says, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; not as the world gives, give I to you,” Archbishop Palmer-Buckle said that the church has had experience building peace for over 2000 years, so it is part of its mandate to work for peace.
According to him, but for the intervention of the church through the Sahel Peace Initiative seven or eight years ago, the situation could have been more dire, affecting many countries in the subregion.
Archbishop Palmer Buckle reiterated that the forum does not intend to offer solutions but to solicit the ideas of various interest parties, consolidate them, and present a communiqué to national authorities at the end of the forum.
“We do not have a solution to profer now. The solution, I think, will be at the end of the conference, what will be a communiqué, so that is what we are waiting for,” he emphasised.
A co-chair of the advisory board of the Coalition of Domestic Election Observers (CODEO), Rev. Dr. Fred Deegbe, stated that despite the heightened political tension emanating from the quest for political office between the NPP and the NDC, CODEO is more interested in the integrity of the electoral process.
“What our emphasis is is to be sure we have free, fair, and credible elections. Our interest is where it is. Once the grounds are free, fair, and transparent, then whoever wins has won, and we thank God for that.”
Responding to concerns about the lowering levels of trust in the judiciary should the need arise for an adjudication of the winner of the elections, Rev. Deegbe asked political parties to pay more attention to what happens at polling stations, making reference to a statement by former EC Chair, Dr. Kwadwo Afari-Gyan, that “elections are won at the polling stations.”
He urged extra vigilance on the part of political party representatives to avoid the complexities of seeking justice at the courts after the election.
The two-day forum, which began on Tuesday, July 30, was organised by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference in collaboration with the Catholic Relief Services, National Security, and Ghana Journalists Association.
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