Seek redress peacefully - Two pastors urge political parties

The Chairperson of the Ga Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG), Rev. Dr Abraham Nana Opare Kwakye, has called on political parties aggrieved with the results of the 2020 General Election to seek redress through legitimate and peaceful means.

He said the country had sufficient processes on how to seek redress with elections, and therefore, violent demonstrations and other means not recognised in law were unacceptable.

“I counsel our brothers and sisters who believe that they have been robbed to go to the courts and have their matter resolved.

This is exactly what they would have asked for if they had been on the other side. Protesting at the office of the Electoral Commission is not going to change the results,” he said.

‘Conversations in the Cathedral’

Rev. Dr Kwakye was sharing the stage with the Presiding Bishop of the Perez Chapel International, Most Rev. Charles Agyinasare, at the Conversations in the Cathedral, an event organised by the Catholic Archdiocese of Accra at the Holy Spirit Cathedral, Adabraka, last Friday.

This year’s event was the second edition and was on the theme “The Church and the message of Christmas in the COVID-19 era”.

‘Conversations in the Cathedral’, introduced by the Metropolitan Archbishop of Accra, Most Rev. Bonaventure Kwofie, brings experts and religious leaders together to discuss issues of national interest.

Peace

The two pastors said the use of violence as a means of voicing out grievances would not derail the well-being and prosperity of the country.

According to them, the peace of the country must be protected and cherished by every Ghanaian as it was one of the bedrocks that had held the country together in spite of the many differences among Ghanaians.

“We need to continually remind the political parties that Ghana is more than the about 13 million people who voted for them,” Rev. Dr Kwakye said.

Rev. Dr Kwakye, however, noted that there would be no peace if there was no justice.

Justice, he said, must not only be seen as done, but “must indeed, be done.”

The Presbyterian Church of Ghana Ga Presbytery chairperson also stressed the importance for the country to build and strengthen the democratic institutions to help keep the nation together.

Walk the talk

For Most Rev. Agyinasare, peace was an act and not a saying or attribute.

He said the mere fact that someone preached peace or talked about peace did not make him a peacemaker, unless his actions reflected it.

“The scriptures tell us to be peacemakers and not peacekeepers. In order words, there is no blessing in loving peace, talking peace, wearing shirts about peace, praying for peace or singing about peace.

“The blessing is for those who actually make peace,” he said.

He said everyone had the right to go on demonstration but those demonstrations must be done in a peaceful manner and decorous.

Rev. Agyinasare also urged the security forces to act professionally and not with extreme brute force against unarmed civilians.

“Security forces must be peaceful towards unarmed civilians,” he said.

Peace for the world

The Vicar General of the Metropolitan Catholic Archdiocese of Accra, Very Rev. Fr John Kobina Louis, lauded the two guest speakers for the inspiring messages.

He said peace must be the hallmark of everybody who believed in God Almighty as He had always been seeking for peace for his people.

Writer’s email: emma.hawkson@graphic.com.Gh