Otumfuo urges feuding factions in Middle East and Europe to cease fire
His Majesty Otumfuo Osei Tutu II has urged parties involved in ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and Europe to lay down their arms and pursue peace, stressing that global stability is interconnected.
“From Kyiv to Tehran, Tel Aviv to Beirut, we plead for peace to prevail,” he said.
The Asantehene made the appeal during an Executive Dinner Ball held in his honour as a Pillar of Peace to mark his 27th coronation anniversary.
He emphasised that peace cannot be achieved in isolation, noting that Ghana’s stability is closely linked to developments across the world.
“Peace is indivisible. It cannot be preserved or protected in isolation. In the global village that is our world, there is no such thing as an isolated conflict, and no one is immune from the ravages of conflict anywhere,” he stated.
He further warned that threats to peace in any part of the world ultimately affect all nations.
“Wherever peace is threatened, the whole world is threatened. So we cannot talk about peace in Ghana without feeling the crushing weight and corrosive impact of wars raging in Europe and the Middle East,” he added.
Concern Over Humanitarian Impact
The Asantehene also expressed deep concern about the human cost of ongoing conflicts, describing the suffering of affected populations as overwhelming.
“The heart wrenching suffering we are seeing on the airwaves is only the tip of the iceberg. The true collateral damage to innocent communities across the globe is yet to be measured,” he said.
He noted that beyond those directly affected by war, millions of people worldwide continue to suffer indirectly, often in silence.
“The innocent billions in the world who are collateral victims are crying in silence, and their cries of anguish and tears can no longer be ignored. Nor can our hearts bear the continuous suffering of those who are the direct victims of these wars,” he added.
The Asantehene’s remarks highlighted the urgent need for global cooperation and dialogue to end conflicts and safeguard humanity.