The Centre for Christian-Muslim Engagement in Africa (CCMEA) of the Akrofi- Christaller Institute of Theology, Mission and Culture in collaboration with the Department of Religious Studies of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) has held the Kumasi edition of the 11th Annual Interfaith Symposium.
The Annual Interfaith Symposium serves as a platform for leaders of Christian, Muslim, Traditional faiths, other religious organisations and security forces to deliberate on issues of common concern and offer solutions. It was themed: The rise in threat of terrorism and religious extremism: Implications for security and inter-religious engagement in Ghana.
In his welcome address, the Head of the Department of Religious Studies, Reverend Prof. Jonathan Kuwornu-Adjaottor said that terrorism and religious extremism have become a threat to security and development, which calls for education on how Ghana could avoid them.
Reverend Prof. Kuwornu- Adjaottor stated that though Ghana is a peaceful country, the peaceful atmosphere should not be taken for granted. According to him, peaceful living and coexistence in addition to religious tolerance would play a key role in accelerating development in all aspects of the country.
The objective of organisers of the event is to mobilise religious voices to speak to social, political, environmental and economic issues, on a common platform to enhance interreligious awareness, peaceful coexistence and collaboration, which the event provides.
The Chairman of the National Peace Council, the Most Reverend Professor Emmanuel Asante, in his keynote address, said the menace of terrorism, mostly precipitated by radical religious ideologies, has been a global reality for a long time. This deadly phenomenon has, however, been known not to be as prevalent in Africa and particularly the West African sub-region as it is in other parts of the world.
However, some events in recent years have increasingly turned West African sub-region to a major target and hub for religious extremism and terrorism.
Citing a report by the African Centre for the Study and Research on Terrorism (ACSTRT), Reverend Asante revealed that 76 terrorist attacks occurred in Africa from the 1st to 15th July, 2019. Two weeks before that, 67 recorded attacks had resulted in 367 deaths, with the most affected countries being Burkina Faso, Nigeria and Mali.
Rev. Prof. Asante said terrorism leads to destruction, undermines state security and leads to several other negative effects. He continued that it derails governments’ efforts at achieving development and diverts revenue for development into reconstructing and rebuilding of infrastructure, relief services and providing security.
The Chairman of the Peace Council therefore stated that the time has come for religious leaders to fight religious extremism. He said it should not be conceived, nursed, nurtured or encouraged in any form, as it is a crime against humanity.
He concluded by calling an all religions in the country to promote interreligious dialogue to resolve issues, promote peace, security and national development.
The symposium also featured submissions on perspectives by the religious groups.