Following general apprehension leading up to the December 7 general elections in Ghana, the Darkuman Seventh-day Adventist Church within the Accra City Conference organized a vibrant peace concert on November 9, 2024. Ghana holds Parliamentary and Presidential elections on Saturday, December 7, 2024.

The event aimed to educate both church members and the general public to pray for peace and act as agents of peace before, during, and after the elections. The concert, themed “Be an Agent of Peace,” welcomed various denominations, community workers, and individuals from the surrounding area.

Notable guests included Chaplain Colonel Peter Nyarko Duodu, director of Army Religious Affairs, Ghana Armed Forces; COP Daniel Kwame Afriyie, director-general of Human Resource Development of the Ghana Police Service; Gladys Pinkrah, the Greater Accra Regional director of the Electoral Commission; and Solomon Oko-Trebi Hammond, president of the Accra City Conference.

Preaching the sermon, Col. Duodu encouraged the public to prioritize their future and avoid violence and conflicts, drawing lessons from the peaceful exercise of franchise in the United States of America.

Afriyie assured the public of the Ghana Police Service's readiness to safeguard peace before, during, and after the December 7 general elections. He emphasized that peace is a shared responsibility and urged the public to contribute to a peaceful election. He highlighted the Church's crucial role in promoting peace and advised the youth against being used as agents of violence.

Pinkrah cautioned the public to celebrate responsibly after the election results to avoid provoking chaos. She urged religious bodies to pray for credible, transparent, and fair elections.

The youth ministry performed a drama illustrating the effects of war and misunderstanding, which resonated deeply with the audience. Attendees appreciated the program and hoped for more frequent events promoting peace.

Leaders of all political parties in the community also attended the program and pledged peace. 

A church member, Kofi Baah, said that though he would not vote because the voting fell on Saturday,  he pledges to ensure that his words and actions promote peace before, during, and after the elections.

The original article was published on the West-Central Africa Division website.