No way for religious intolerance

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Indigenous religious leaders performed rituals ahead of the satellite launch

The Fourth Republican Constitution establishes Ghana as a secular state, for which reason no special recognition is given to any of the religious denominations. This deliberate policy of not giving any pride of place to a particular faith may account for the religious tolerance, peace and stability in the country.

 

Except on a few occasions when over-zealous worshippers or fanatics overstep their bounds by trying to undermine other faiths through their interpretation of doctrines, we have been spared religious violence associated with other countries. However, we need to remind the fanatics among us that religious fanaticism does not pay and that, in fact, it has the tendency to breach the peace in an otherwise stable and peaceful environment. Last year, it was a sight to behold when the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, joined Muslims to celebrate one of their religious festivals in Kumasi. The National Chief Imam, Sheikh Nuhu Sharubutu, has participated in programmes of other denominations, while some leaders of the Christian faith, especially the Archbishop of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Accra, the Most Rev Gabriel Charles Palmer-Buckle, have admonished their followers to be at peace with their neighbours who profess other faiths. Perhaps Ghana is an oasis of peace in an otherwise troubled sub-region because the people have decided to tolerate one another and, by so doing, exploit the advantages of unity in diversity. That is not to say that all is quiet on the religious front. We have some men and women of God who are wolves in sheep?s clothing trying to mislead their followers.

 

There are some leaders of the Gospel who preach prosperity and exploit the ignorance of their followers to maintain their profligate lifestyles. Certainly, these characters must be watched very closely, so that they do not, in the name of God, visit the Jonestown massacre and other such catastrophes on our peaceful country. It is for this reason that we are worried over recent reports of clashes between the Ahlu-Sunna and Tijanniya Islamic sects. Last Friday, the clash reared its ugly head at Afienya, near Tema, where followers of the two sects, mostly young men, clashed over doctrinal differences and which of the sects had the right to use the Afienya Central Mosque.

 

The Daily Graphic urges followers of the various religious faiths never to impose their beliefs on anybody, no matter their conviction that their faiths are better, because that misconception has been the source of religious clashes across the globe. We are not ready to allow anybody?s parochial interest to undermine the peace and stability of the country. We have too many challenges to contend with and deviants should not be allowed to compound the headaches we have in fixing the problems of an emerging economy.

Daily Graphic Monday, 24 March 2014

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