Don’t take peaceful environment for granted - French envoy cautions

The French Ambassador to Ghana, Mr Pierre-Yves Kervennal, has urged Ghanaians not to take the peace the country is enjoying for granted.

He said peace was an ongoing process and long-term goal which required constant engineering, vigilance and active participation by all individuals.

Mr Kervennal said this when he opened a conference on the engagement with stakeholders to enhance religious tolerance in educational institutions in the Central Region.

The two-day conference, which is jointly being sponsored by the French Embassy in Ghana and the National Peace Council (NPC), is to engage stakeholders on the need for sustainable peace in the country.

In recent times, concerns have been raised by some Muslims over the imposition of other forms of worship or beliefs on them.

Following those developments, the Muslim caucus in Parliament, together with the leadership of the Ghana Muslim Students Association (GMSA), met the governing board of the NPC to formally appeal for the council’s intervention for the observance of religious tolerance and freedom of worship.

PEACE

The ambassador said it was essential to ensure harmonious interaction among people and groups with plural, varied and dynamic cultural identities, as well as their willingness to live together.

The Central Regional Minister, Mr Acquinas Tawiah Quansah, called on religious leaders to refrain from condemning other religions.
Such acts, he said, had the tendency to create conflict and animosity among the various religions since no one would want his/her religion to be treated with disdain.

“The benefit of peace cannot be overemphasised in our daily activities. Peace enhances economic growth and productivity,” he said.
The Queen of Efutu and the Krontihene of the Oguaa Traditional Area, Nana Amba Eyiaba, called on religious leaders not to allow fanaticism to cloud their judgment, adding, “We should be peaceful and always live with one another.”