As Ghana readies itself for the 2024 general elections, the Seventh-Day Adventist (SDA) Church, through its Mid-Central Ghana Conference, has taken a leading role in promoting peace and responsible behavior among citizens. In a significant move, the church organized a peace concert at the Bantama SDA Church, featuring songs of peace and unity aimed at fostering a calm and harmonious electoral atmosphere.
The initiative, spearheaded by Pastor Daniel Kyei Baffour, President of the Mid-Central Ghana Conference, underscores the church’s commitment to ensuring that the nation remains peaceful before, during, and after the elections. Addressing the congregation, Pastor Kyei Baffour highlighted the importance of maintaining peace as a cornerstone of democracy.
“Our primary mission as a church is to preach, promote, and practice peace,” he stated. “We encourage all Ghanaians, especially the youth, to exercise their democratic rights responsibly and avoid any acts of violence that could disrupt the peace of our nation.”
The peace declaration also saw the SDA Church addressing an issue of great concern to its members: the scheduling of the election date on Saturday, the church’s Sabbath. Pastor Kyei Baffour revealed that the church has submitted petitions to the Electoral Commission and the Attorney General, requesting a reconsideration of the date to respect their religious observance.
Adding his voice to the peace campaign, Oheneba Bobieh Israel, Youth Director of the Mid-Central Ghana Conference, appealed directly to young people, urging them to refrain from any actions that could lead to chaos or unrest. “The youth are the backbone of our society,” he noted. “We have a responsibility to safeguard the peace of this country by avoiding violence and being ambassadors of unity.”
The peace concert served as a platform to unite members of the SDA Church and the larger community in a shared commitment to peace. Through music, prayers, and declarations, participants reaffirmed their dedication to upholding Ghana’s democratic principles in a peaceful and respectful manner.
The Seventh-Day Adventist Church has long been an advocate for national peace, and this recent initiative reaffirms its role as a key stakeholder in fostering unity. As Ghana prepares for the elections, the church’s message of nonviolence and inclusivity resonates as a call for all citizens to prioritize peace over division.