Ghana’s Bishop calls for collective action to safeguard peace and stab

Bishop Dr Agyei Lawson, speaking on behalf of the Christian community and the Chairman of the Christian Council of Ghana, has urged religious leaders to use their influence to promote tolerance, dialogue, and peaceful coexistence as Ghana seeks to calm religious tensions following a viral incident involving a pastor accused of making derogatory remarks about Prophet Muhammad.

The meeting where Bishop Lawson made the appeal was held on Friday, August 14 at an engagement between the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), the Police Management Board (POMAB) and religious leaders.

Christian Leaders Call for Collective Action to Safeguard Ghana's Peace

Bishop Lawson made the appeal on behalf of the Christian community, urging religious leaders to use their influence to promote tolerance, dialogue, and peaceful coexistence. He placed particular emphasis on the influence religious leaders wield over their congregations and communities.

"We therefore encourage all of us to reject intolerance, hate speech, provocation, and violence," he said.

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Bishop Lawson also called for dialogue and mutual respect, urging religious leaders to remind their followers of their shared national identity.

Ghana's Religious Diversity: A Source of Strength or Division?

Ghana is a nation blessed with religious diversity, and our ability to live together in peace remains one of our greatest strengths, according to Bishop Lawson. He urged religious leaders to treat the country's religious diversity as a source of strength and not division.

The pastor's arrest followed the circulation of a viral video in which he was allegedly heard making offensive remarks about Prophet Muhammad, a revered prophet of Islam. The incident sparked strong reactions and raised concerns about the potential impact on Ghana's longstanding interfaith relations.

Partnership Between Police and Religious Institutions Key to Maintaining Peace

Bishop Lawson also thanked Inspector-General of Police Christian Tetteh Yohuno for convening the engagement with religious leaders. He commended the IGP for what he described as positive and constructive remarks earlier in the meeting.

"We believe that the Ghana Police Service remains committed to working closely with religious institutions to maintain peace, protect lives and property, and strengthen public confidence," he said.

Bishop Lawson urged religious authorities to deepen their partnership with the police, particularly in preventing tensions from escalating. He suggested that such cooperation could involve religious leaders using their platforms to promote responsible citizenship and discourage their followers from engaging in inflammatory or violent conduct.

The Way Forward: Promoting Peaceful Coexistence in Ghana

Together, through faith and responsible citizenship, we can preserve the peace that our nation enjoys, Bishop Lawson said. He urged leaders to recognise that their words can either calm communities or contribute to heightened tensions.

"We can preserve the peace that our nation enjoys by promoting dialogue, mutual respect, and peaceful coexistence," he said.

The meeting, he suggested, demonstrated the importance of dialogue between the police and religious institutions when dealing with issues that could affect national peace and security.

Source: JOY