body-container-line-1
24.09.2016 Social News

Political exclusiveness is a concern for the nation - National Peace Council

By GNA
Political exclusiveness is a concern for the nation - National Peace Council
24.09.2016 LISTEN

By Patrick Cofie, GNA
Accra, Sept. 24, GNA - Most Reverend Professor Emmanuel Asante, Chairman, National Peace Council, has said political exclusiveness and its related political and ethnical antagonism ought to be a concern for all if peace is to be sustained in the country.

He said this 'winner takes all' mentality in our society has led to the ingrained desire by various political stakeholders to win 'at all costs' and thereby heightening the tensions during electoral campaign seasons.

Speaking at the Valley View University's inaugural Peace Public Lecture series, Most Reverend Professor Asante said we need transformational leaders in all sectors of the society to halt the over politicisation of all administrative and governmental decisions.

The Lecture, held on the topic: 'Enhancing peace before, during and after elections: the role of the religious community in Ghana', he said such leaders are also needed to forestall the blatant display of unprofessionalism by certain heads of our national institutions and members of the public service.

Most Reverend Professor Asante said there is the need for a second look at our political system to reflect the advantages of proportional representation adding that this can be initiated at the district and local levels where all representatives of an area would stand for elections.

He said for peace to be attained during our electoral cycles, the high rate of poverty, illiteracy and the weakness of our electoral regulatory system need to be addressed.

Most Reverend Professor Asante said 'the quest for peace and security is an ongoing agenda the human community' but in our society, the abuse of certain rights as a result of our freedom of expression needs to be checked.

Dr Mohsen Maarefi, the President of the Islamic University College, and the Chairman for the occasion, said faith based institutions have a role to play in sustaining the peace of a country.

He said religious groups are often the majority in all electoral processes hence the need for their leaders to serve as useful models in ensuring peace.

Professor Daniel K. Bediako, the Vice Chancellor of the Valley View University (VVU), said there is the need to inculcate the essential ingredients of patriotism in our youth and with this there could be less worry during elections.

He said VVU is a faith based institution that seeks total development of the learner -intellectually, socially, physically and spiritually.

Prof Bediako said at VVU (which is located in Oyibi with satellite campuses in Kumasi and Techiman), we believe in producing graduates with sound moral principles to serve God and man adding that the peace of our nation is a blessing which must be maintained at all costs.

He said subsequent lectures as part of the series would be held at the Golden Bean Hotel, Kumasi (13th October) and at the GNAT Hall, Ho (10th November).

GNA

body-container-line