Election 2024: Ghana to host Peace Goal event ahead of December polls

Ghana is set to host a high-profile football event aimed at promoting peace and unity ahead of the 2024 general elections.

The initiative, dubbed OAD PEACEGOALS 2024, will feature a match between Barcelona Legends, led by Brazilian football icon Ronaldinho, and Ghana’s Black Stars Legends.

The event, scheduled for November 9, 2024, is being organised by the Organisation for African Development (OAD) in partnership with World GI Events LLC and in collaboration with FC Barcelona. It has garnered support from key national institutions including the National Peace Council and the office of the Speaker of Parliament.

During a meeting with President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, OAD founder Bonaventure Aguissi outlined the event’s structure and objectives.

“The tension these days is like in Africa, each time we have elections there is tension and what do we do to make sure that we can minimize the tension?” Mr. Aguissi said, explaining the rationale behind the initiative.

The main event on November 9 will commence with a peace convocation at 1 p.m., followed by the football match at 3 p.m. Mr. Aguissi elaborated on the programme: “There will be a peace convocation at 1 p.m. which is the curtain raiser for the game and this will address calling for peace from religious and traditional leaders and would also give the presidential candidates an opportunity to do the same.”

In a bid to promote inclusivity, the event will feature a mini-fixture of women in media versus women presidential and parliamentary candidates. Presidential candidates will also be invited to participate in a warm-up session with the Barcelona and Black Stars legends.

President Akufo-Addo, while expressing support for the initiative, tasked the organisers to ensure the participation of key political figures. “The more important thing is the presence of the candidates because they are the most important people in all of the names that you have mentioned. We have an event where they are not there. It is a non-event,” he stated.

The President emphasised the importance of securing commitments from the two main presidential candidates, given their busy campaign schedules.

“At this stage, especially with exactly one month to go to the election, that will be their main consideration. Whether or not it can fit into whatever national campaign programme that they have but it is important to have them there,” he noted.

The organisers expressed optimism about the event’s potential impact.

They hope to leverage Barcelona FC’s global following of about half a billion to amplify their message of peace.

“There will be a hashtag with Barcelona FC, which has about half a billion followers. Across the world,” Mr. Aguissi mentioned.

The initiative aims to demonstrate the possibility of peaceful co-existence among individuals with diverse political views and set a positive example for the voting public. It comes at a crucial time as the country prepares for its ninth election under the Fourth Republic.

President Akufo-Addo reflected on Ghana’s electoral history, stating, “By and large, they have all been well-organised, peaceful, and transparent processes. And that is why Ghana continues to enjoy the peace and stability that it does.”

The OAD PEACEGOALS 2024 event is expected to attract significant attention both locally and internationally. It represents a unique approach to peace-building, combining sports, politics, and cultural elements to promote national unity during a critical period in Ghana’s democratic journey.