Commitment to common courses that foster harmonious relations alongside “collaborative efforts” can go a long way in ensuring peaceful coexistence in the African Sahel region, the wider West Africa, and across the African continent, Archbishop Gabriel Charles Palmer-Buckle of Ghana’s Cape Coast Archdiocese has told participants in the July 30-31 Sahel Peace Initiative Forum.
Speaking on Wednesday, July 31, the second day of the two-day event that focused on “co-responsibility towards peaceful elections and peacebuilding”, Archbishop Palmer-Buckle highlighted co-responsibility as necessary for peace in African countries.
“Our shared commitment and collaborative efforts are essential in creating a peaceful and secure environment,” he said, adding that such efforts are handy during electioneering periods in African countries.
Co-responsibility, the Ghanaian Catholic Archbishop said, “emphasizes that peace is not solely the responsibility of the government, security forces, or any single organization.”
He went on to describe co-responsibility as “a collective endeavour that involves each one of us: citizens, traditional leaders, community leaders, religious leaders, civil society organizations, the private sector, and political leaders.”
Alluding to Ghana’s general elections scheduled for later in December as well as other African countries with planned polls, Archbishop Palmer-Buckle underlined the need for all the actors to work together in fostering peaceful elections.
“Peaceful elections are a cornerstone of any democratic society. They provide a platform for the expression of the people’s will and are a vital aspect of national identity, but also particularly of personal identity,” he said on July 31 at Accra International Conference Centre.
Peaceful elections, the 74-year-old Archbishop, who started his Episcopal Ministry in January 1993 as Bishop of Ghana’s Koforidua Diocese said, “require meticulous planning, transparency, and the active participation of all stakeholders.”
When co-responsibility is practised, “I think we can safeguard the integrity of our electoral process and ensure that the voice of everyone is heard,” he said.
Archbishop Palmer-Buckle also emphasized the mutual interaction between social cohesion and peace in society if “built on mutual respect, understanding, and the recognition that our diversity is our strength.”
“By fostering inclusive dialogue and addressing the root causes of division, I believe we can build stronger and more resilient communities,” the Local Ordinary of Ghana’s Cape Coast Archdiocese said.
Security in West Africa is essential as the “bedrock upon which peace is established,” he said and added, “Without security, all our efforts towards development and progress are undermined. As you know, it is therefore our collective responsibility to ensure that our communities are safe and that the rule of law is upheld.”
To foster security in the African Sahel region and the wider West Africa, there is need for “vigilance, cooperation, steadfast commitment to justice, and a deeper sense of co-responsibility,” Archbishop Palmer-Buckle said.
“Our collective wisdom and dedication are the keys to building a peaceful, secure, and cohesive society. Let us work together to create a future where peace and security are not just aspirations but realities for all,” Archbishop Palmer-Buckle said.
