Inspector-General of Police Christian Tetteh Yohunu has called on Ghana's religious leaders to take a more active role in promoting interfaith harmony and discouraging violence.
Speaking at an engagement with religious leaders at the National Police Headquarters, the IGP emphasized the crucial role that religious leaders play in protecting Ghana's peace, particularly by influencing the behavior and attitudes of young people.
Using the Pulpit to Promote Peace
The IGP urged Christian and Muslim leaders to dedicate their sermons to messages that promote peace, self-control, and interfaith understanding. He specifically asked them to use their regular Friday and Sunday services to speak against religious intolerance and conflict.
"Dedicate your Friday sermons in Islam, and Sunday sermons strictly to messages of interfaith harmony, self-control, and the danger of religious conflict," he said.
Demonstrating Unity in Public
The IGP also encouraged Christian and Islamic leaders to appear together at public events, share meals, and engage communities jointly. He said that such visible cooperation would send an important message to young people that religious diversity should not be a source of division.
"Let the public see Christians and Islamic leaders standing together, sharing meals, issuing joint statements, and walking through our communities hand in hand," he said. "Show the youth that diversity of faith is strength, not a fault line."
Trusting the Justice System
The IGP's third appeal was for religious leaders and their congregations to have confidence in Ghana's statutory justice system and discourage attempts to take the law into their own hands. He urged religious leaders to teach their followers that allegations of wrongdoing should be handled through the appropriate state institutions rather than through mob action, online abuse, or physical violence.
"Reaffirm trust in statutory justice, online harassment, or physical violence," he said. "Teach them that trusting the state to resolve offences is a mark of civic maturity and religious wisdom."
Ghana's relative peace has been sustained because previous generations chose dialogue and cooperation over violence. The IGP warned that Ghana must not take its peace for granted, pointing to conflicts in other parts of West Africa where tensions had been allowed to escalate.
A Call to Action
The IGP urged religious leaders to use the engagement as an opportunity to help end hostility and reinforce confidence in the law. He said that allowing the state to investigate and resolve disputes was an important part of responsible citizenship.
"Let us make this matter serve as a clear reminder that the law works, and let this meeting mark the end of hostility," he said.
Source: Joy Online
