Conflict resolution, peace building greatest challenge — Rev. Prof Asante
The National Peace Council (NPC) and the Ghana-Turkey Co-operation and Development Association (TUDEC), in collaboration with Fountain Magazine and Great Volta Foundation Dialogue Centre, have held an international peace conference on the theme, “Love and Tolerance: Peaceful co-existence in diversity,” in Accra.
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The Chairman of the National Peace Council (NPC), Most Rev. Prof. Emmanuel Asante, said issues of conflict resolution and peace building were “the greatest challenges of our time, especially in Africa.”
“Indeed, we cannot as humans embark on any meaningful development or enjoy the fruit thereof in the absence of peace. The struggle for peace is, therefore, a collective responsibility of all citizens,” he said.
Professor Asante stated that the NPC would continue to engage individuals and institutions that believed in the values of tolerance, brotherly love and respect for one another, forgiveness and the culture of peaceful co-existence of people with different faiths and origin.
The conference
The conference was inspired by a book titled, “Toward a Global Civilisation of Love and Tolerance” written by a famous Turkish cleric, Fethullah Gulen.
It created a platform for discussion among participants on the necessity of personal and social dialogue, as well as inter-faith and inter-ethnic dialogue for mutual understanding. It also sought to encourage participants to see dialogue as a first option and to strive to understand the concept and relevance of love, tolerance and acceptance.
The conference was attended by government officials, traditional and religious leaders, dignitaries from the various ethnic groups, scholars and intellectuals.
Attendees
Personalities who attended included a Minister of State at the Presidency, Mr Rashid Pelpuo, the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Nuhu Sharbutu, the President of the Trinity Theological Seminary, Prof. J.O.Y. Mante, the Catholic Archbishop of Accra, Most Rev. Charles Gabriel Palmer-Buckle, the 2012 presidential candidate for the People National Convention (PNC), Mr Hassan Ayariga.
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All the speakers emphasised the need to coexist and tolerate other views even if they were not in line with one’s view point. The speakers included Nigerian Jaamatu Nasril Islam Secretary General, Dr Khalid, Abubakar Aliyu, an Associate Professor of Islamic Studies and Director of Catholic-Muslim Programme at the University of Columbia, New York, Prof. Scott Christopher Alexander, Bishop of the Anglican Church, Rt Rev. Dr Daniel Sylvanus Torto, a Professor of History of Christianity, Prof. Jon Pahl Frederic among others.
Co-existence
The National Chief Imam, Sheikh Sharabutu, who addressed the conference through an interpreter, said God created mankind to interact among themselves and not to fight “because of our diversity but to know one another better and appreciate one another through our diverse ways”.
Contributing, Most Rev. Palmer-Buckle thanked the organisers for the invitation and explained that his passion for love and peace building stemed from what he would explain in human life as an accident but to God, it was no accident.
Dr Aliyu said globalisation, rivalry, quest for socio-political and economic supremacy, and domination among countries at the continental and international levels, had led to civil unrest, militia fighting and even wars.
“Hate speeches and indecorous expressions are now becoming habit(s) in our societies, which also threaten the desired love, harmony and peaceful coexistence,” he said.
Government commitment
Mr Pelpuo, who delivered a message on behalf of the government, said the government was committed and willing to to seek peace in Ghana and Africa.
He commended religious leaders for their commitment for peace, noting that “the source of most conflicts is as a result of emotions generated through religion” and was hopeful that the conference, would find solution to such problems.
The President of the Ghana-Turkey Co-operation and Development Association (TUDEC), Mr Yusuf Temizkan, quoting Martin Luther King Jnr, said, ”Those who love peace must learn to organise effectively as those who love war”.