FGJ to mobilise Ghanaians

PRESS STATEMENT: FGJ to mobilise ghanaians AGAINST HATE-SPEECH AND GENOCIDAL COMMENTS

22nd April 2012

The Forum for Governance and Justice (FGJ) last Tuesday, 17th April, 2012, added its voice to that of peace-loving individuals and groups of this country in condemning the genocidal and ethnically explosive statements made by Kennedy Adjepong in which he called on Ashantis and Akans in general to attack Gas and Voltarians in the Ashanti Region.

We also repudiated in the strongest possible terms, his declaration of war on his Radio Station, Oman FM. The FGJ in its last statement called on the NCA to take steps to rein in Radio Stations that use their platform to incite unlawful conduct on the part of political party followers.

Given the gravity of the statements made by Kennedy Adjepong and the potential it holds for the commission of serious crimes against humanity such as genocide, ethnic cleansing and civil strife, we believe that condemnation alone would not be enough to drum home the need to eschew such conduct.

As part of our contribution towards mobilising Ghanaians to reject hate-speech and incitement to violence, the FGJ wishes to announce its intention to hold a series of activities. These will include a public forum in Accra on Tuesday 24th April 2012 and a peace march on Thursday, 26th April 2012. We will provide details of these programs at a press conference on Monday 23rd April 2012 to be held at the Freedom Centre, Kokomlemle, at 10am.

In the national interest, we urge all Youth groups, Religious bodies and groupings, workers groups, Civil Society Organisations and all Ghanaians who are determined to keep our country peaceful to join us in these activities so that we can all send a clear signal to those within our society who are hankering after war, genocide and civil strife that they will not be allowed to get away with such diabolical schemes.

Signed Dr. Clement A. Apaak Convener, Forum for Governance and Justice - Ghana 020 011 7620