National forum on repentance slated for July 24

Accra, (Greater Accra) 4th May ?99,

The First National Forum on Repentance, Forgiveness and Reconciliation to prepare Ghanaians into the next millennium with "real magnanimity devoid of suspicion, division and rancour" is to be launched on July 19, this year.

The forum will be organised by the National Commission on Civic Education (NCCE), the Christian Council of Ghana, the National Catholic Secretariat (NCS), the Ghana Muslim Council and the Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission.

Others are the Federation of Ghana Muslims, the National House of Chiefs, the Ghana Pentecostal Council and the National Commission on Women and Development.

Mr Larry Bimi, Chairman of NCCE, said "the forum will address factors that have contributed to social friction and threats that undermine national peace and cohesion".

He said from the political activities of the pre-independence era to the present day, all governments have, in various ways, formulated or executed certain policies that have left feelings of hatred and bitterness in some individuals, families or groups of people.

The outstanding characteristic of both Ghana's civilian and military administrations since independence to date, has been a record of omissions, commissions and policies that were executed in the perceived supreme national interest and in the bid to fulfill their political mission, he explained.

''While governments and opposition groups may have been responsible for these lapses, the reality is that in some instances it was individuals or groups who, taking advantage of the times, may have acted on their own, even though the governments or opposition groups at the time had to bear the political responsibility''.

Mr Bimi said the NCCE will collaborate with its partners to intensify its educational efforts at encouraging all Ghanaians, irrespective of their political affiliation and ethnic origin, to appreciate the need for national healing through true repentance, forgiveness and reconciliation.

''The nation must, individually and collectively, recognise and accept that there have been wrongs in the past, accept that they were occurrences in our historical development and find ways and means to redress the wrongs and to pledge, not to repeat those wrongs in the future''.

The Rev. Aboagye Mensah, General Secretary of the Christian Council of Ghana, stressed the need for a true repentance, forgiveness and reconciliation from Ghanaians to ensure that the forum becomes a success.

Rev. Fr. Anthony Kornu, Assistant Secretary General of the NCS, assured the public of the religious bodies' support to promote a sense of unity among the populace.

''People might be wondering why now? The answer is simple. This is the time, a time for salvation and redemption and we must all work together to ensure its success''.

Maulvi M. Bin Salih, Deputy Missionary in Charge of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission, appealed to the public to assist in every small way to achieve the goals and objectives of the forum.

At the end of the July forum, a final document, a pledge, which will be issued, will be signed by all religious, traditional and party leaders as an indication of their commitment to it.

Regional activities in the form of workshops will be organised and communiqu? issued. In cases where religious bodies and political parties are involved, they would be asked to preach and disseminate information at their gatherings, campaigns or rallies.