By Hannah Dadzie
The Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council, GPCC, has called on Ghanaians to serve as instruments of peace, not conflict, as the country approaches the 2024 general election.
At a news conference to announce the launch of a peace campaign, General Secretary of the Council, Apostle Emmanuel Tettey, urged Ghanaians to be mindful of their actions and utterances, stressing that any form of vigilante activities must not be tolerated.
Apostle Tettey encouraged all Ghanaians to protect the peace that the nation currently enjoys, underscoring the importance of remaining vigilant to safeguard it during this crucial election period. He expressed confidence that the campaign launch, along with other planned activities, would make a meaningful contribution to a peaceful electoral process.
The Peace Campaign launch, scheduled for Sunday, November three, at the forecourt of the State House, aims to foster unity and promote a violent-free election. In attendance will be flagbearers from all political parties, independent candidates, and key stakeholders.
Apostle Tettey emphasized that tolerance, respect, and dialogue are vital as the elections approach. He encouraged political leaders to talk supporters out of violence, urging them to prioritize national unity. He asked parties to seek legal action in case of any contention during the election rather than resorting to violence.
“We know the times and seasons we are in, that whenever we come close to elections tensions in the country rise, and so it is within this light that the ecumenical councils in the country we have come together and we’ve been working towards maintaining the peace of our country. Ghana as we know is surrounded by French-speaking countries, unfortunate as the case may be, virtually all these countries are going through some social turmoil. We need to guard this peace we have very well, we don’t want any issue that will bring chaos in our country, we should be very forthright in condemning and acts of vigilante and militia that come up during the elections,” Apostle Tettey indicated.
Apostle Tettey said the GPCC’s goal is to create an environment where every Ghanaian feels safe to cast their ballot without fear or intimidation. He highlighted some activities lined up for the campaign.
“On the 9th of November, there is going to be a peace walk by the youth of our councils. There is also going to be a very massive prayer program because we are religious bodies, God giving as grace on the 22 of November and we will continue engaging with the various political parties
and then state institutions to ensure that we do our little part in ensuring that there is peace. You know the political parties they have members who are also members of our various churches and the mosques. We are going to have some leading faces of politicians also on the walk,” Apostle stated.
The Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council is joining forces with the Christian Council and the Muslim Council for this campaign, aligning with Ghana’s longstanding reputation for peaceful democratic transitions.