[ 2012-05-27 ]

Peace rally in Accra
A peace rally has been held in Accra to solicit
for support of Ghanaians on the need to maintain
peace in the run up to the December elections and
beyond.

Organised by the Oparedawuro media consult, the
rally brought together youth choirs of the Seventh
Day Adventist (SDA) church in the South Ghana
Conference, to use song ministration to drum home
the danger that any breech of the peace could
cause the country’s development process.

Some of the pastors and youth who were at the
event shed tears when the lyrics of the song and
chorographic depicted scenes of violence resulting
in death during campaigns, voting and declaration
of electoral results in some countries in Africa.

The choristers reminded Ghanaians about the
importance of peace for the provisions of basic
amenities such as roads, jobs and incomes leading
to improvements in the quality life of the
people.

Speaking on the topic “The Responsibilities of the
Police and the General Public” DSP Cephas Arthur,
the acting Public Affairs Director of the Ghana
Police Service, assured Ghanaians that the police
and other security agencies were ready to provide
security to ensure peace in the December
elections.

In that regard, he disclosed that the service had
put in place a comprehensive preparation regime
since 2010 to provide a peaceful atmosphere
before, during and after the elections.

He said plans and policies had been put in place
including a yet-to be- inaugurated National
Election Security Taskforce and the training of
some 16,000 personnel from all the security
agencies to provide security during the
elections.

“GPS has gained experience in the various
elections, therefore, the police is in the
position to do even better in the 2012 elections”,
he opined.

Mr Arthur observed that peace at the election was
a shared responsibility between the Police and the
general public; therefore, the public owe it a
duty to the state to conduct themselves in a
responsible manner.

To that end, he encouraged Ghanaians to ensure
peaceful political process; avoid comments,
statements and insults that would incite others.

Again, he urged Ghanaians to be tolerant, even in
the face of provocation and resort to the law when
necessary and should not take the law into their
hands.

On obeying the electoral laws, he advised
prospective voter against giving their voter ID
cards to others, destroying ballot papers or
supplying ballot papers to any person without
authorisation among other malpractices.

On his part, the Administration officer, Religious
Affairs of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), Pastor
Captain P. N. K. Doudo, noted that it was not
enough for people to talk about peace, rather
Ghanaians must believe in peace and act for peace,
quoting Matthew 5: 9 which says “Blessed are the
peacemakers for they shall be called the children
of God”.

Captain Doudo, observed that only disciplined
people could be real peace makers and suggested
that healthy interpersonal relationships could
promote peace.

As part of the programme, some stakeholders in the
electoral process were made to sign a’ Peace
Makers Banner’ enjoining them to uphold peace at
all times.

The President of the Ghana Journalist association
(GJA), Mr Ransford Tetteh, for his part said the
media would do its best to promote peace in its
reportage by providing accurate information to the
public in the coming elections.

Mr Tetteh observed that election was for people to
elect their leaders but not to fight and cause
violence which in turn would be detrimental to the
development and growth of the country especially
the youth and children.

“Should we continue to fight in order to elect
people to lead us? I guess no”, he exclaimed.

In helping the media to ensure peace, he advised
the public to abstain from using the media as a
platform to insult and provoked to incite others
to do same.

Source - Daily Graphic

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