Religious/Ethnic intolerance: "We have the absorbers to withstand these shocks"
The National Commission on Civic Education (NCCE) together with the National Peace Council is to initiate a dialogue with religious stakeholders on the matter of current religious intolerance challenging Ghana, President John Dramani Mahama has said.
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The dialogue is expected to bring a truce to the provisions of Article 21(1) of the 1992 Constitution.
Making this known during his address at the 58th Independence Day celebrations in Accra Friday, President Mahama said the dialogue is without prejudice any conclusion the Supreme Court would arrive at in respect of a suit that has been brought before it.
Speaking on the matter of religious intolerance, President Mahama said although government welcomed the suit filed at the highest court of the land, it was not opposed to the use of interfaith channels and dialogues to dissolve any disagreements among the different faith groups in the country.
“I have therefore, only yesterday, asked the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) to join the National Peace Council in initiating a dialogue to foster an amicable understanding on how to operationalise Article 21 (1) of our constitution,” he said.
Ethnocentrism
Expressing concern over ethnocentrism, President Mahama noted that Ghana had been celebrated for her strong democracy, respect for human rights and freedom of expression, ethnic harmony and religious tolerance, adding that, “And that is why I have recently been worried about the few events that have affected the atmosphere of ethnic and religious peace that we have enjoyed.”
He noted further that the ethnic and cultural diversity in the country contributed in a unique way to make Ghana a great and strong nation.
He said, “Our diversity must be a source of strength and not of weakness. Our diversity should be harnessed and forged into a potent weapon for the realisation of our national interest. They should not provide the grounds for tearing ourselves apart”.
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President Mahama however expressed optimism that, “our society has the absorbers to withstand these shocks.”
Listen to President Mahama speak on religious/ethnic tolerance
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