The President of Presbyterian University College, Ghana, Rev. Prof. Emmanuel Adow Obeng has cautioned that the country can experience sound national development if it does not compromise her Peace.
He gave the caution when he delivered the welcome address at the 2nd Discipline in Leadership Public Lecture Series held in Accra recently on the theme “Election 2016 and Prospects for Sustainable Peace: Whose Responsibility”.
The President said “Peace is the basis for national development. Peace secures the future and destiny of the country. Peace builds unity and togetherness. Anything contrary to that destroys lives, properties, impoverishes our people, and creates uncertain future for the children, Youth and generations to come. Peace is God’s gift to his people and we must protect it at all cost.
According to Rev. Prof. E. A. Obeng , the trend of national politics has been worrying as the electioneering campaign has turned into character assassination and inciting one group against another, hate speech and offensive language.
He believes “Election is about selling of genuine ideas, programmes, and policies that would better the lives of the citizens. It is winning the hearts and minds of the electorate to believe in programmes, policies and nothing more”.
Citing examples from Kenya and Cote d’Ivoire where violence characterized their elections in 2007 and 2010 respectively, Rev. Prof. Emmanuel Adow Obeng said Ghana cannot afford to compromise its hard-earned peace to power drunken politicians who would stop at nothing to retain or assume power.
He said media reports and observations indicating rising political heat stemming from intolerance and the use of intemperate language, should be a concern to well meaning Ghanaians adding that the welfare and future of Ghana do not lie in the hands of politicians but in the collective hands of all Ghanaians and that of God.
The Discipline in Leadership Lecture Series is to provide a forum for academic and professionals to discuss topical issues and events in the country, devoid of any political or religious spin. Its aim is simply to educate and inform people to reduce gullibility that is engulfing the country and her people.