The National Peace Council (NPC) and its partners have issued a statement calling for an end to the “politics of religion” in Ghana ahead of the 2024 General Elections.
The Council and its partners noted with concern that certain individuals and groups were attempting to inflame religious tensions through insinuations and publications on electronic and social media.
In a statement, the Council stressed the importance of religious and ethnic diversity and urged all Ghanaians to continue to coexist and tolerate each other.
The National Peace Council and its partners also reminded Ghanaians of the right to freely practice any religion and participate in political activities, as protected by the Ghanaian Constitution.
The statement called on those engaging in such destructive actions to immediately desist and urged all Ghanaians to expose those individuals and groups seeking to incite religious tensions.
Read full statement from the Peace Council below:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE NATIONAL PEACE COUNCIL CALLS FOR AN END TO THE “POLITICS OF RELIGION”
The National Peace Council (NPC) and our key partners, the Christian Council of Ghana, the Office of the National Chief Imam, and the Catholic Bishops’ Conference have observed with great concern some insinuations and publications on electronic and social media seeking to inflame religious passion into the 2024 General Elections.
As the National Institution responsible for peace in the country, the NPC and our partners wish to remind all Ghanaians of the admirable manner by which we have lived together in peace, despite our Religious, Political and Ethnic diversity. We have a duty as a people to continue to coexist and tolerate our diversity. Article 21(1)(c) of the 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana recognizes and protects the right of all persons to freely practise any religion and to manifest such practice.
Besides, Article 21(3) also provides for and protects the rights of all Ghanaians to freely form or join political parties and to participate in political activities subject to the qualifications and laws as are necessary in a free and democratic society and consistent with the Constitution.
The NPC, the Christian Council of Ghana, the Office of the National Chief Imam, and the Catholic Bishops’ Conference, respectfully request all individuals and groups who are engaging in such insinuations and publications to refrain from such destructive mission and should immediately desist from such actions as they have the tendency to destroy our long cherish plurahstic friendly society.
The NPC and our partners further urge all Ghanaians to expose such characters who have embarked on this slippery mission. Long live Ghana
SIGNED: 1. CHAIRMAN, NATIONAL PEACE COUNCIL. 2. CHAIRMAN, CHRISTIAN COUNCIL OF GHANA. 3. SPOKESPERSON, OFFICE OF THE NATIONAL CHIEF IMAM. 4. THE PRESIDENT, CATHOLIC BISHOPS CONFERENCE.
By Vincent Kubi