Kyebi, July 14, GNA - Reverend Dr Samuel Ayete-Nyampong, Director, Interfaith Research and Resource Centre of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG), has appealed to Ghanaians to protect the peace the country was enjoying since conflict had never benefited any society.

He said conflict had led to destruction of lives, property, resources, and waste of precious time that could have been used for developmental purposes.

Rev. Ayete-Nyampong made the call at a day’s sensitization workshop on peace building for District Ministers and Lay Representatives of the Akyem Abuakwa Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, at Kyebi on Wednesday.

Participants discussed primal religion and the Christian faith, shared experiences about evangelising of other faiths ant the event was under the theme; “Religion as a resource for peace”.

Rev. Ayete-Nyampong said that as the nation prepared for Election 2012, political parties should consider themselves as political opponents and not enemies, and to undertake their campaigns devoid of insults, bitterness, rancour, hatred and violence.

“This is the only way Ghana can continue to enjoy peace and political stability and gain respect and high recognition at the international level,” he said.

Rev Ayete-Nyampong stressed that the peace that Ghana was enjoying should not be taken for granted, considering the political crisis in other African countries including neighbouring Cote d’ Ivoire.

He said in order for Ghana not to experience inter-religious strife as it was happening in some countries such as Nigeria and Sudan (between Muslims and Christians), which partly led to the break away of the South to form a different country, it was important for all religious groupings in Ghana to come together to promote peace and harmony.

Rev. Ayete-Nyampong called for efforts to ensure peace among all religious faiths in Ghana.

He cautioned religious organization in the country to avoid using force in resolving inter-sectarian and inter-religious strife.

The Chairperson for the Akyem Abuakwa Presbytery, Rev Patrick K. Dekyem, commended the Department for the workshop, saying it had come at the right time when the nation had been divided along political lines in recent times.

He asked Christians who were into politics to conduct themselves in a manner that would serve as example for others to follow.

Some of the participants appreciated the role being played by the media to deepen democracy in the country but expressed concern about the attempt by some media houses to inflame passion and encourage ethnocentrism.

They called on the media to be professional and circumspect in their reportage in order to retain the integrity of the country.