The Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference has called on stakeholders to address the concerns raised by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) before proceeding with any peace pact ahead of the 2024 elections.
The NDC has expressed hesitation in committing to a peace agreement without certain conditions being fulfilled.
Speaking in an interview with Citi FM, which was monitored by KumasiMail.com, the President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference, Most Rev. Mathew Kwasi Gyamfi, emphasized the necessity of justice as a foundation for lasting peace.
He stated that peace should not be pursued without addressing legitimate grievances.
“Our position is that for there to be peace, there should always be justice. Some of the issues raised by the NDC need to be addressed. For instance, in the Ayawaso incident, how were the findings implemented? Regarding the murders, what progress has been made in the investigations? The Electoral Commission, the machines—what is the status? It doesn’t harm us to communicate, to say, ‘This is where we are, this is the direction we’re heading, the investigation is ongoing, but here’s what we’ve done so far,’” Most Rev. Gyamfi remarked.
He added that once these concerns are addressed, the NDC would have no grounds to refuse signing the peace agreement. He urged relevant agencies to keep the public informed about the status of these issues, as transparency could help alleviate tensions.
“We understand that some matters cannot be resolved quickly—they take time—but at least, let them inform the entire Ghanaian population about the progress. I believe this would help settle the issues,” he continued.
Most Rev. Gyamfi also stressed that the nation’s peace should not hinge on any political party’s willingness to sign a peace agreement. Instead, he urged all political parties to place the country’s peace above political interests, ensuring that the nation is not held hostage by partisan considerations.
