Hundreds march for peace in Accra

Hundreds of people from all walks of life Thursday participated in a peace march in Accra to drum home the need for peace during and after elections 2012.

Under the aegis of the Forum for Governance and Justice (FGJ) and bearing placards some of which appealed for peace and condemned hate speeches, the marchers walked from the Kwame Nkrumah Circle through Adabraka, TUC, National Theatre and the Ministries before ending at the Arts Centre.

Some of the placards read; Say yes to Peace, Ghana belongs to God, Say no to Hate Speech, Ghana will not die, say no to terrorism, No genocide in Ghana, Kennedy Agyapong please don't kill us and Ghanaians are one people.

Ahead of the peace march, the organizers had explained that given the gravity of the statements made by Assin North MP, Kennedy Agyapong in his controversial comments for which he is facing criminal charges, and the potential it holds for the commission of serious crimes against humanity such as genocide, ethnic cleansing and civil strife, the FGJ said 'condemnation alone would not be enough to drum home the need to eschew such conduct.

'Therefore, as part of our contribution towards mobilising Ghanaians to reject hate-speech and incitement to violence', the FGJ said it intended to hold a series of activities, including a public forum in Accra and the peace march.

Addressing the marchers, Convener, Forum for Governance and Justice – Ghana, Clement Apaak, advised participants not to buy into the deceptions of any politician to engage in violence or warmongering.

He also hinted the peace march could be extended to other parts of the country to help bring down the political tension.

Source: Myjoyonline