‘Be actors of peace’- Youth tasked

The Participants at the Workshop.

Catholic youth in the country have been charged to continue praying for and preaching peace among their peers and wherever they found themselves, to ensure greater peace in the country, before, during and after the November 7 polls.

Mrs. Abigail Nutakor, Head of Gender and Disability at the Electoral Commission, urged the youth to desist from acts that will lead to electoral violence.

She was speaking at a day’s workshop organised by the Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation (JPIC) Apostolate of the Society of the Divine Word Missionaries (SVD) in Ghana for Catholic youth from some parishes in the Accra Archdiocese.

The youth were advised not to allow themselves to be used by any politician to foment troubles during the elections, since electoral violence could pose a great threat to the national peace and development.

Mrs. Nutakor, who underscored the need for all stakeholders to do their bit to ensure peace, counselled the youth to “reject any enticement to act violently” and not allow themselves to be used to cause trouble in the run up to the elections.

 “As Catholic youth, you have a duty to work to preserve the peace in the country” she said, charging them to be pacesetters to preserve peace in the country.

To ensure greater peace and development, she urged the youth to be rational in the choices they make with regards to who they vote for

She highlighted the essential role the catholic youth could play in voter education, promoting tolerance among the public and safeguarding themselves against any action that could cause conflict

“No politician’s ambitions are worth scarifying your life or years of your life in a prison,” Mrs. Nutakor cautioned, entreating the youth to be peace builders in their societies and communities, protect their future and shun electoral violence.

Rev. Fr. Alex Awuah-Osei, SVD, Team member of the Biblical Pastoral Ministry of the SVD, noted that peace building goes beyond strategies, adding that reconciliation is spirituality and a process that must be nurtured.

Touching on Justice and Peace based on the Biblical Teachings, Fr Awuah-Osei quoted extensively from the Book of Genesis, tracing the fall of man in the Garden of Eden as the root cause of absence of peace in the world

He cited the various conflicts chronicled in the Book and noted the plague of fraternal strife between Cain and Abel (Gen. 4: 1-16), Abram and Lot (Gen. 13:1-7) and between Jacob and Esau.

Fr. Awuah-Osei, stated that failure to live and let the other leave, taking undue advantage of those in need, corruption in the society, were some of the causes of conflicts in the society.

In entreating the youth to pray and preach peace to all, he urged Ghanaians to seek reconciliation with God, with themselves, with others and with nature in order to secure lasting peace.

    

Rev. Bro. Oswald Bangfo, SVD, member of the JPIC, Provincial Ad monitor of the SVD in Ghana, stressed the essence of peace in Ghana during and after the election.

In a keynote address, he noted that election should not lead to violence, adding that Ghanaians should back the election process with prayers. 

“As we pray for peace, let act peacefully,” he stated, and urged Ghanaians to cultivate the attitude of celebrating whoever emerges winner in the elections.

The workshop, held at the St. Arnold Janssen Spirituality Centre at Tuba, in the Accra Archdiocese, attracted participants from Divine Word Catholic Church, Tuba, Holy Family Parish, Mataheko, Ss. Peter and Paul, New Weija, St. Karol, St. Charles Luwanga, Abeka; Star of the Sea Church, and St. Margret Mary Parish, both at Dansoman. 

Organisers who distributed leaflets with texts highlighting what the youth should do to promote peace, noted that the programme will be replicated in other areas. 

Background

The Justice and Peace and Integrity of Creation Apostolate of the Divine Word Missionaries, aims at promoting justice and peace in solidarity with the poor and oppressed in our society.

To do this the society, seeks to use a constant process of conscientising people with a critical analysis on the socio-political situation; as well as promote justice through the effective educational programmes and educational institutions and through their communal approach to evangelisation and efforts of the Communication apostolate.