The National Peace Council has challenged church ministers to lead by example in preaching and demonstrating peace as it condemns the rise of hate speech and insults in the Ghanaian media.
The Council also says the call for violence and the rise of what it describes as religious militants particularly among Christians was worrying and must be addressed in the interest of peace.
Speaking at this year’s Minister’s Conference of the Ghana Baptist Convention, c hairman of the Peace Council Rev Dr Ernest Adu-Gyamfi stressed that such behaviours contradict the teachings of Christianity.
“The daily insults and hate speeches on our radio and television against elders, clergy, chiefs, politicians etc and the call for violence by political actors while the church looks on and only calls on the Peace Council for their response is a clear neglect of the duty and responsibility of the of the church.
The rise in religious militants including Christians in our country who are seeking dominance by force is a development that is a great worry to the National Peace Council”, Rev. Adu Gyamfi stated.
His remarks come after Ghana lost its position on the Global Peace Index as the most peaceful country in West Africa to Sierra Leone and as the second most peaceful country in Africa to the fourth position.
As the country gears toward the 2024 elections, Rev. Adu-Gyamfi cautioned church leaders against spreading chaotic messages through social media and urged collective efforts to ensure a peaceful electoral process.
“This year’s election will test the peace, unity, stability, cohesion, and resilience of our county. As Ministers of our churches, we have a responsibility to preach and demonstrate peace for our citizenry to follow. Let us avoid pushing WhatsApp messages around only to show how chaotic our country is becoming but take steps to intervene where possible for the sake of national peace and cohesion.
“As individual leaders and collectively as a denomination, let us lead our nation through our ministerial ethics and accountability such that after this year’s election, there will not be a single bloodshed in the country”, he said.
Irene Naa Torshie Addo-Lartey, administrator of the District Assembly Common Fund used the occasion to call on Ghanaians to be agents of peace as the country goes to the polls this year.
Rev. Dr Charles Owusu Ampofo, president of the Minister’s Conference at the Ghana Baptist Convention urged the government to be prudent with its expenditure and ensure that citizens have a fair share of the national cake.
This year’s conference was held in Ejura in the Ashanti Region under the theme: “Ministerial Ethics, Accountability and Responsibility in the 21st Century Church”.
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