Peace is collective duty — Peace Council member
A board member of the National Peace Council (NPC), the Rt Rev. Col John Kwamina Otoo, has said protecting the country’s peace was a collective responsibility and not just a duty reserved for the council.
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He emphasised the need for vigilance among citizens and the collective responsibility of all stakeholders, including individuals, as he clarified the role of the National Peace Council of Ghana and the public in safeguarding the nation's peace during the upcoming 2024 election.
Rt Rev. Col Otoo cautioned against raising unnecessary alarms, adding “many people think that whenever we (Peace Council) hear anything, we must raise the flag, but that is not our work”.
“Peace is from all of us; as the voices of those who want power continue to go up and up to the highest level, please let's know that the peace we enjoy is at a cost,” Rt Rev. Col Otoo, who served as a Chaplain of the Ghana Armed Forces, said, stressing that peace is a shared responsibility.
Parade
The clergyman was delivering a sermon at a joint graduation religious parade at the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College (GAFCSC) in Accra last Sunday.
The religious parade was for graduates in Master of Science in Defence and International Politics, a programme for both officers and civilians.
His sermon, which was premised on the Biblical verses of Luke 12:48, was on the theme: “He that much is given, much is expected”.
Rt Rev. Col Otoo urged the graduates to leverage the skills and knowledge acquired from the programme to sustain and add more value to the gains made by their bosses in their respective capacities.
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He added that as branches of God described in Biblical terms as the vineyard, it was their responsibility to bear fruits wherever they found themselves, adding that “if you don’t add to it, sustain it”.
“If we want to make an impact of what God has given us and to grow out of it, then we must not lose where the light started from,” he added.
Advise
A former Chief of Air Staff of the Ghana Air Force, Air Vice Marshal Maxwell Mantsebi-Tei Nagai, who was the guest of honour, urged the officers to lead and remember that military leadership was not about funfairs, promises, accolades or laud applause.
Rather, he said they must lead by example by pursuing truth.
“Having had the opportunity to pursue a Master’s programme in addition to the command course to enhance your performance, both locally and internationally, a much better service is expected of you.
“The real grading is out there on the field; your red ink grade here is as good as what you can demonstrate on the field,” Air Vice Marshal Nagai said.
He urged the civilians to allow the knowledge and experiences acquired from the Command and Staff College to bring out excellence and dedicated service to the country in their various capacities.