Ho, Jan. 21, GNA - Participants at a three-day workshop in Ho have called for greater interaction among different religious persuasions for rapid socio-economic development.

The participants praised the level of tolerance among people of different beliefs and cultures in the country and observed that there was room for improvement in order to propel the country into the middle income bracket. The workshop was on the theme: "Our Culture and its Religions: Building Strategies for Enhancing the Capacity of Civil Society, Faith Groups and the Media in Promoting Culture and Interfaith Dialogue in Ghana".

It was organized by Royal Care and Support (ROCAS), a Ho Based Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) and brought participants from Civil Society Organizations and Faith Groups from Ghana and Nigeria. Togbe Kwaku Ayim V, Paramount Chief of Ziavi Traditional Area who represented the Volta Regional House of Chiefs, noted that the country had come far from the days of religious intolerance to a stage of collaboration and co-operation.

This positive development, he said, must be exploited and further strengthened for the country's rapid growth. "The understanding that we are all one and serving one God is high today and we must use that understanding to bring our cultures together for the development of our people and communities," he advised. Togbe Ayim asked stakeholders to desist from the imposition of cultures on people and look at how they could help resolve developmental problems together.

He said it was beautiful to see chiefs go to church after their installation and to offer thanksgiving after the celebration of festivals and urged stakeholders to go beyond that and collaborate and strategies to develop their areas. Togbe Kwame Akoto V, Divisional Chief of Tanyigbe and President of ROCAS urged churches to undertake projects to create jobs in their communities.

He asked traditional rulers to regard churches as partners and agents of development rather than threats to their authority. Togbe Akoto said the workshop would map out action plans to promote culture and interfaith dialogue for peace and development.