Home

About LRC

Programmes

Publications

Departments

Research

PRESS

Intolerance Hindrance to Peace - Short

by Albert K. Salia

The Commissioner for Human Rights and Administrative Justice, Mr. Francis Emile Short has stated that political, religious and ethnic intolerance remain the greatest challenges to peace and stability in the country.

He said in a society with diverse cultures such as Ghana, it is important that "we create and develop an environment that would enhance peaceful co-existence."

Mr. Short stated this when he opened a five-day workshop on conflict management and dispute resolution for community and opinion leaders in the Ayawaso area in Accra yesterday.

It is being organised by Legal Resources Centre, a non-profit organisation and sponsored by the Democracy and Human Rights Fund of the United States Embassy.

According to Mr. Short, conflict results from the failure of some people to observe and respect the rights and freedoms of others.

He reminded Ghanaians that most of the countries in the West Africa sub-region and in other parts of the world were at one time peaceful and stable, but are now in conflict because of intolerance and abuse of the righs of other citizens.

He said it is, therefore, important for everyone in the country to assist to sustain the peace and stability the country presently enjoys.

Mr. Short commended the initiative of the Legal Resources Centre to empower community, and opinion leaders in the Ayawaso are with their knowledge on conflict management and dispute resolution.

Mrs. Leslie Weschell, Coordinator of Democracy and Human Rights Fund of the US Embassy, in a brief address, said teaching and providing support for human rights education in the community develops an informed citizenship able to make informed choices.

She said as the December 7 elections draw nearer, it is imperative that all Ghanaians play a role through political participation, to ensure freedom and justice for all.

Mrs. Weschell said Ghanaians must take advantage of the opportunities offered by the democratic process to end exploitation and discrimination.

The Executive Directo of Legal Resources Centre, Mr. Abdulai Mohammed Ayariga, in a welcome address, stressed the need for civil society organisations to assist constitutional bodies such as the National Commission for Civic Education and CHRAJ to empower the citizenry on their democratic rights and responsiblities to make them more responsible.

On his part, Chief Alhaji Moro Baba Issah, chairman of the Ayawaso Council of Muslim Chiefs, noted that in a community such as the Ayawaso area, the rights of individuals and the community as a whole are often trampled upon by others like some service providers simply because most of the residents do not even know their rights and how to defend them.

He thanked the organisers of the programme for the education given the community and said it will go a long way to help the people in the area.

back to top

WORKSHOP ON CONFLICT MANAGEMENT ENDS

The Ambassador of the United States in Ghana, Kathryn Dee Robinson gave a pleasant surprise to residents of the Ayawaso Council area of Accra last Friday. The envoy personally graced the closing ceremony of a workshop on Conflict Management and Dispute Resolution in the heart of the lowly Nima-Mammobi suburb.

The five-day event for Muslim chiefs, assemblymen and opinion leaders was organised by the Legal Resources Centre in collaboration with CHRAJ. The US embassy provided sponsorship through a Democracy and Human Rights Fund grant.

Ambassador Robinson described the workshop as an "excellent initiative that draws on Ghana's tradition of having respected community leaders play a proactive role in grassroots conflict resolution and mediation efforts." She expressed the hope that the modest support will benefit the people of Nima, Mammobi and New Town in so many ways for many years to come.

Abdulai Mohammed Ayariga, Executive Director of LRC, expressed profound appreciation for the support of the US for the centre, noting that democracy was not only a form of government but also a way of life. "Mere structures and institutions of governance would not secure for us the benefits of democracy, which we understand to be freedom, liberty based on the rule of law, equality of opportunity and prosperity." Ayariga said, adding, "we must therefore develop in our people the culture of democracy... this requires education and then mobilization."

back to top