Interfaith dialogue in Ghana a necessity – Clergy

Rev Dr Kwabena Opuni-Frimpong, General Secretary of the Christian Council of Ghana (CCG) on Friday called for an interfaith dialogue among the various religious groups in the country to promote tolerance and unity.

“We have reached a point where we must project humanity and not the religion we belong to,” he said.

Rev Opuni-Frimpong made the call when he led a four- member delegation from the CCG to pay a courtesy call on the management of Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Accra.

The delegation included Reverend Daniel Sakitey, Ecumenical Relations Officer, Mrs Dinah Mankwa, Director of Finance and Administration and Mr Leonard Ackon, Administrative Secretary.

Rev Opuni-Frimpong emphasised the need for Ghanaians to use religion as a tool to facilitate national unity and development rather than to divide the people.

He said there are religious excesses in the society which must be eradicated, hence the need for the media to get involved in the task.

He noted that it was not only political tension that must be managed but that adequate attention should also be given to religious tension in the country.

Rev Opuni-Frimpong stressed the need for consensus building among the various religions, saying that the Christian Council intended to play a significant role in that direction.

Dr Bernard Otabil, General Manager of GNA underscored the importance of fostering collaboration between CCG and GNA with the view to initiating a national dialogue on religion, culture and society.

He also hailed the idea of interfaith dialogue and called for a roundtable discussion on the subject, particularly as it related to national development.

Dr Otabil further called for a stakeholders' forum that would help enhance the capacity of the clergy to relate with the media in a more efficient and effective manner.