Let’s us move beyond ad hoc efforts, to peace during elections – Prof. Asante

Kumasi: Ghana must move beyond ad hoc efforts that seek to promote peace during elections, by instituting mechanisms geared towards preventing the outbreak, escalation, and recurrence of conflicts in the country.The Most Rev. Prof. Emmanuel Asante, the former Chairman of the National Peace Council (NPC), who made the call, said the situation where stakeholders went to sleep after intensive peace campaigns during elections, must give way for continuous dialogue and peacebuilding.At a symposium organised by the NPC to commemorate the 2024 World Peace Day, he said the nation must learn to constantly engage in conversations on issues that have the potential to divide and plunge the country into conflict, with the view to ensure peaceful co-existence.The event, which brought together key actors in the Election 2024, formed part of efforts by the NPC to foster peace in the region before, during and after the election.The participants included religious leaders, political party representatives, students, sec urity agencies, and the media.The former NPC Chairman called for serious commitment to peacebuilding, which involved dialogue among stakeholders, promotion of human rights, and the Sustainable Development Goals.He said sustainable peace focused on addressing the problems of today without compromising on the future.The lack of political will to tackle the wanton destruction of the environment and water bodies was akin to a father enjoying the inheritance of his children with reckless abandon, he said.He stated that it was sad that some politicians were failing to perform their duties of preventing illegal mining, and the destruction of water bodies and forests, for fear of losing their votes, which had led to a compromise on future environmental security.The revered Professor stated that such a situation had dire consequences for the well-being and existence of the nation and its population.He said sustainable peace had an eye for today and the future, stressing that present decisions taken must al so consider the consequences of tomorrow.He, therefore, reiterated the need for all relevant stakeholders to continue engaging to address the causes of conflicts and violence across the country beyond elections, to achieve sustainable peace as a country.Source: Ghana News Agency