Rawlings & Kufour Preach Peace

• In forthcoming elections

LEADERS of four political parties, including the President, Flt. Lt. J. J. Rawlings and the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr. J. A. Kufuor, yesterday called on Ghanaians to consolidate the gains of democracy by working for peaceful elections in December.

The others were the flagbearer of the Convention People’s Party (CPP), Professor George Hagan. The flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Prof. John Atta Mills, who was out of the country, was represented by the Central Regional Minister, Mr. J. S. Arthur while the National Reform Party was represented by its interim National Chairman, Mr Peter Kpordugbe.

They made the call when they joined thousands of Catholics to celebrate the Great Jubilee of the Holy Year 2000 of the Catholic Church at Cape Coast.

For some time now, individuals and organisations have been calling for violent-free and peaceful elections this year.

Political analysts consider the platform organised for the political leaders as crucial for the success at efforts aimed at reconciling the nation.

The celebration was under there theme: “Reconciled and United, Let us Pursue our Common National Destiny”.

The leaders of all the parties present also pledged to work towards achieving reconciliation.

The Catholic Church invited the party leaders to the ceremony to climax its just-ended Bishops’ Conference and to preach the essence of reconciliation and the need to ensure peaceful elections.

In his address, President Rawlings called on religious bodies to put in motion a pragmatic programme to help achieve genuine reconciliation and harmony in the country.

He said the Catholic Church, in particular, has a history of helping hitherto polarised communities to heal past wounds and said this is the time for the church to intervene to help Ghana breakaway from the past and forge ahead.

President Rawlings said the year 2000 should be dedicated to the search for peace and harmony and, above all, to the consolidation of democracy in the country.

The President described the 2000 elections as very crucial and yet significant because it will afford Ghanaians another “opportunity to rededicate ourselves to sustainable development”.

“The process has reached a very delicate stage. We have a choice either to consolidate positive gains so far achieved and move forward into the future or be consumed by a never ending cycle of recrimination, retribution, revenge and counter revenge” he warned.

President Rawlings maintained that the nation has reached a crucial point in her development and can not afford to be divided by misguided sentiments adding, that, “if we must look back, we must look back at the truth and nothing else”.

The President again used the platform to apologise to individuals and families who suffered “unjustifiable damage and humiliation” during the early stages of the revolution.

He, however, stated that before reconciliation can be achieved, truth should be allowed to stand alone”.

President Rawlings explained that the economic difficulties facing the country are due to external factors and not because government has mismanaged the economy.

He, therefore, called on the minority groups to eschew reckless pronouncement about the economy, which create a situation of hopelessness for the people.

He commended the Catholic Church for inviting the flagbearers of the political parties to pledge to work towards ensuring a peaceful election adding that, “let us all resolve to manifest not only words but by action and real commitment to bring our nation close”.

On his part, Mr. J. A. Kufuor described the occasion as memorable and pledged to work tirelessly to build on the goodwill gesture of the Catholic Church.

He urged the government to institute a mechanism to pacify all those who have been wronged by the ruling government adding that the mechanism for reconciliation should be all-embracing.

Mr. Hagan said the ceremony presents a new beginning for Ghanaians to rededicate, “ourselves to the fundamental values of humanity and repair all broken relations.

Earlier in a sermon, the President of the Catholic Bishops Conference and Archbishop of Cape Coast, the Most Reverend K. A. Turkson urged political parties to persevere in the spirit of reconciliation to enable the country move forward with a common focus.

He maintained that the ruling and the minority parties have a joint responsibility to ensuring that this year’s election is conducted in a peaceful manner devoid of rancour and acrimony.