William Ofori-Atta Heritage holds peace forum

The William Ofori-Atta Heritage on Tuesday held a peace forum in Accra aimed at sensitizing Ghanaians on the need to accept the verdict of the Supreme Court (SC) on August 29, 2013.

The forum organized in collaboration with the Christian Council of Ghana, the Office of the National Chief Imam and the Multimedia Communication, was on the theme: “One nation, one people, one destiny: Sustaining Ghana’s Democracy”.

The Okyenhene, Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori-Panin urged Ghanaians to have faith in the nine Justices of the Supreme Court to deliver justice come August 29, on the 2012 presidential election petition.

He said: “The nine justices will decide the faith of our nation and I am sure they will be courageous to do justice for Ghana”.

Mr Sam Okudzeto, a legal luminary said we could not afford to fail as a nation, and for that matter, we need to appreciate and tolerate one another.

He said as a nation, we made serious errors in the past because of political intolerance, adding that there was the need for the younger generation to be taught well on the history of the nation.

Mr Paul Victor Obeng, Chairman of the National Development Planning Commission and Senior Advisor to the president said: “Peace is the only way we can move forward, it is the only way we can consolidate our democracy”.

He said the lack of trust in political opponent was the cause of winner takes all in our body politics.

Mr Kofi Asamoah, Secretary General of the Ghana Trades Union Congress said: “We want to sound a note of caution to the politicians, Ghana does not belong to them only; Ghana belongs to all of us and the yet unborn”.

“I am convinced that come August 29, Ghana will be one nation, with a common destiny.”

Professor Akosua Adomako Ampofo, Director of the Institute of African Studies, University of Ghana, urged political parties to call their activists to order anytime they misbehave.

She said Ghana was the only home we had and there was the need to maintain the peace and stability of the nation after the SC’s verdict.

Mr Fred Oware, Vice Chairman of the New Patriotic Party, pledged his party’s commitment to abide by the ruling of the SC.

He called on the security forces to be up and doing in order to safe guard the peace of the nation in the aftermath of August 29.

Apostle Dr Opoku Onyinah, Chairman of the Church of Pentecost, stated that the petition before the SC was part of democratic practices; and the cry for peace in the aftermath of the August 29 ruling was an indication that Ghanaians wanted peace.

He admonished his fellow Ministers of God to inculcate in their followers the principle of respect for others and to treat them the way they wanted to be treated.

Nana Dr S. K. B. Asante, Omanhene of Asokore Traditional Area, noted that the principle of winner takes all was the bane of Ghana’s politics.

Imam Awal Shuiab, Executive Member of the Office of the National Chief Imam, urged Ghanaians to continue to pray for peace and the good of the nation.

Professor Stephen Adei, former Rector of the Ghana Institute of Public Administration, commended President John Dramani Mahama and Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for their commitment to abide by the verdict of the SC.