Prof. Kwesi Jonah charges rotarians to preach peace for a smooth election
Takoradi, July 29, GNA—The former Head of the Political Science Department of the University of Ghana, Legon, Professor Kwesi Jonah, says Ghana has built an enviable reputation as an oasis of peace and beacon of democracy on the African continent.
He, therefore, charged Rotarians, traditional authorities, opinion leaders and influential people in society to preach peace before, during and after the December general election to enable the nation to maintain the image it had carved for itself.
Prof. Jonah gave the advice when he served as guest speaker at the Annual Presidential Ball of the Sekondi-Takoradi Rotary Club in Takoradi at the weekend.
Speaking on the topic: “Ensuring Peace in Ghana: The Role of Community Leaders and Rotarians”, he said peace was very essential for the sustenance of the economic gains made so far and called for an all-inclusive propagation of peace.
Prof. Jonah, a Senior Fellow of the Institute of Democratic Governance, noted that the Global Peace Index rated Ghana very high on the path of peace that had made the country an attractive destination for direct foreign investment. He, therefore, charged the entire citizenry to maintain that enviable position for accelerated national development.
“We should not allow just one election to squash the democratic gains we have made over the years. We all have the responsibility of maintaining peace in all our various endeavours”, he stressed.
Prof. Jonah entreated Rotarians to be proactive in networking with the media, educational institutions and youth groups in advocating for peaceful elections in every nook and cranny of the country. He noted that some parts of the nation witnessed communal violence in the recent past, as well as skirmishes during the biometric registration exercise, saying that this gave cause for worry.
Earlier, the outgoing President of the Sekondi-Takoradi Rotary Club, Rotarian Reverend Gustav Dedjoe-Djokotoe, said the club achieved great strides in poverty reduction, poor sanitation, illiteracy and polio from society through its community service initiatives. He, however, indicated that there was more room for improvement to accomplish its motto of “Service above Self” and, therefore, tasked his colleague Rotarians to sacrifice their comfort to bring smiles on the faces of the needy.
Rotarian Rev. Dedjoe-Djokotoe announced that the club donated an amount of US0 dollars to Rotary Foundation to assist in the polio eradication campaign, as well as distributing stationery and other teaching aides to three schools in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis.
He added that it also offered scholarship to a student to pursue secondary education, while plans were underway to build a new library complex for the people of Takoradi all geared towards ensuring quality education in society.
The club swore-in an 11-member executive to steer its affairs for the next 12 months. They included Rot. Ebenezer Akwei Allotey, President, Rot. Nti Adu Bonsafo, Vice President,, Rot. Joseph Harry Fynn, Secretary, and eight other members.
GNA