At a peace advocacy symposium organised last Saturday in Accra by the Baraka Policy Institute (BPI), a social policy think tank, both Christian and Muslim leaders present demonstrated tolerance and set an enviable example for their followers when they encouraged the electorate to avoid violence before, during and after the December 7 polls.

The General Secretary of the Christian Council of Ghana, Rev. Dr Cyril Fayose, and Sheikh Armiyawo Shaibu, who represented the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharubutu, called on Muslim and Christian youths to resist any call to violence by any politician as the country inched towards the December 2020 general election.

Sheikh Shaibu said: “The greatest injustice that any politician will do to you is to reduce you to a tool for violence.

“When they come to you, see them as partisan people. We must reject violence. Violence is evil, it breaks, it destroys, it maims, it creates bitterness, it generates anger and creates hatred,” he advised.

He pointed out that the integrity and credibility of every election was contingent upon a peaceful environment, adding that “Peace is the greatest favour God gave to mankind and peace is necessary for every society to thrive.”

Peace symposium

The symposium was held on the theme: “Leveraging on our religious values in ensuring peaceful elections in Ghana,” and was targeted at campaigning for the peace and serenity before, during and after the December polls.

It brought together both Muslim and Christian leaders from diverse denominations as well as Muslim and Christian youths, and various advocacy groups such as Initiative of Change, Mother of Nations, the Ghana Muslim Mission and the Qur’an and Sunna International Organisation.

Collaboration

Sheikh Shaibu said the youth could not be part of any violent situation because it contradicted with the teachings and principles of both Islam and Christianity.

“It is contradictory to be using the cutlass when all you preach and learn about in the mosque and church is peace. I want to emphasise that we will reject the mindset for violence,” he said.

He further called on Muslim and Christian leaders to join hands and help to perpetuate the campaign for peace in the country.

He observed that Christians and Muslims constituted more than 90 per cent of the citizens in this country, and yet they were the same people at the forefront of political violence.

“Constituting more than 90 per cent gives us the advantage to live in peace. We don’t have to wait until elections before we begin to advise the youth; it must be continuous.

“When the mind is fed with violence, it produces violence and when it is fed with peace, it produces peace,” he added.

Forgiveness

Rev Dr Cyril Fayose averred that the country was bound to retrogress and suffer if the peace it was enjoying was destroyed.

He urged people to therefore, “forgive one another and avoid holding grudges.”

“Live right with your neighbour because it is a responsibility. You must have a just relationship with everyone around you,” he stressed.

Hotspots

The Imam of the Ghana Police Service, Supt Imam Abdur Rahim Hussein, expressed concern regarding the over 6,000 political hotspots identified by the service ahead of the elections.

He said a good number of the hotspots were communities populated by Muslims, adding that “we have a lot of work to do.”

“We need everyone to come on board to help safeguard the peace in the country since the police cannot do it alone. I suggest that we do personal and community policing, that way, we can check one another and ensure peace,” he said.