COMMUNIQUÉ ISSUED AT THE END OF THE ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION WORKSHOP organised by ISLAMIC HUMANITARIAN
FOUNDATION & SHEIKH SALIS SHABAN FOUNDATION in collaboration with
INTERNATIONAL
COMPASS MEDIATION ASSOCIATES - (CANADA-GHANA)
ON
MONDAY APRIL 18 2016 IN ACCRA
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
GHANA MUST PREPARE FOR PEACE AND
EFFECTIVE CONFLICT RESOLUTION
PREAMBLE
Islamic Humanitarian Foundation and Sheikh Salis Shaban Foundation under the Auspices of Sheikh Salis Shaban, Tijaniyya Spiritual Cleric (Ghana, Togo & Benin) in relation to its forthcoming Golden Jubilee Maulid on 23rd April, 2016 , commemoration of the life of Sheikh Ibrahim Niass, A paragon of Peace deem it fit to collaborate with the following organisations to organise this professional Training in Alternative Dispute Resolution and Mediation to contribute in the process of sustaining and maintaining peace in our dear mother land Ghana, especially regarding the coming 2016 parliamentary and presidential elections: Over 50 Ghanaians across Ghana from diverse religion, profession , ethnicity were comprehensively trained and awarded certificates of completion. The training was done by Regina Thompson – Principal LL.M (ADR), Chartered Mediator, Accredited Family Mediator, Child Protection Mediator,Certified Adjudicator
PARTNERS
· Islamic Humanitarian Foundation
· Sheikh Salis Shaban Foundation
· Community Development and Advocacy Group ( CODAG)
· International Compass Mediation Associates (CANADA-GHANA)
· Strategic Intervention Services Associates (CANADA –GHANA)
· Integrated Initiatives for Community Developments (IICD)
· Voice in Community Empowerments
INTRODUCTION
Conflict as a form of disagreement between parties
has been with man since creation. Conflict occurs
when there is incompatibility of goals between parties leading to struggles,
disputes, quarrels or violence. Conflicts by their nature do not occur
in a vacuum. There are always reasons for which conflict occur at any given
time, situation and at all strata of the society, both locally and
internationally. In other words, the sources of conflict are not only many and varied
but pervasive and deep depending on its context, motives and other variables.
The international community since the dawn of
history has had its own share of social, political, economic, ethnic and
religious conflicts and as such is not immune from it. Ghana, albeit, regarded
by many as an oasis of peace in the African Sub- region does not live in
isolation when it comes to occurrences and challenges of conflicts. Conflict
whether interpersonal, interpersonal, intragroup, intergroup or interstates can
be mitigated if not nib in the bad.
It is for these reasons that we issue this
communiqué to call for peaceful coexistence among people and the resort to
preventive means of averting conflicts as well as effective conflict resolution
mechanisms in case the inevitable occurs.
THE
NEED FOR PEACE
The famous Greek philosopher,
Aristotle is quoted to have said that “it is more difficult to organize peace
than to win a war; But the fruits of victory will be lost if the peace is not
well organized” and Mahatma Gandhi ones also said that “there is no way to peace. Peace is the way.”
The perennial industrial upheavals precipitate by labour agitations
through demonstrations and strikes in Ghana, even though legitimate, should be
a concern for peace lovers and promoters. It is often said that coming events
cast their shadows and therefore a stitch in time saves nine. Hence, all hands
should be brought on deck at resolving such disputes between Workers Union, on
one hand, and the Government of Ghana, on the other hand, in addressing these
pertinent challenges for the sake of peace, security and the development of
Ghana.
Again, recent happenings in the country such as the call and perturbation
for a clean voters register ahead of the November 2016 general election by some
political parties, pressure groups, think tanks and political activists; the
brouhaha surrounding the arrival of the
two Guantanamo Bay ex-detainers, Mohammed bin al Duby and Mustapha bin Atef, in
February 2016 in Ghana ; the violent behaviours at our sports stadia by irate
football funs; the arrest and subsequent deportation of the three South African ex-police officers by Ghana’s
security apparatus and the seemingly sense of
insecurity that ensued from those incidents as well as the alerts,
scares and ‘prophecies’ of an imminent terrorist attack on Ghana, should call
for great concern among the security agencies in particular and the Ghanaian populace
at large.
Lastly, the myriad of youth and graduate unemployment in Ghana, although
a global phenomenon, should be treated as a matter of urgency if the peace and security
of the country is to be consolidated. It is a common believe that poverty makes
people susceptible to crime and that the devil finds work for the idle hand.
CONFLICT
PREVENTION
Prevention is not only better than cure but cheaper.
Conflict prevention as a pre-emptive measure to violence should be the hallmark
of all and sundry in our quest to safeguard our motherland. All stakeholders of
peace should take appropriate measures to forestall any act of conflict that
begins to rear its ugly head in any part of the country.
CONFLICT
RESOLUTION
Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms have
over the years proven to be one of the effective tools for settling disputes
and conflicts amicably in modern times as compared to other legal means.
Mediation, for instance, has been used in Ghana and elsewhere to resolve many
disputes in the families, home, workplaces, organizations, communities, and between
states. It is very cheaper as compared to the court systems; it does not last
very long; it non-adversarial; it is a home-grown solution by the parties,
among many other benefits.
Mediation has been employed to peacefully settle
election disputes in countries such as Kenya, Zimbabwe and just to mention a
few. Ghana can also make good use of mediation not only in election related
disputes but in all facets of the society.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, the organizers of this ADR workshop
wish to extend its call for peace to every nook and cranny of Ghana and the
world at large and urge its citizens and citizens of other nations to join
hands in not only preaching peace but practicing peace.
Long live Ghana!
Long live peace lovers!
Long live peace promoters!
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CONTACTS: ALHAJI ABDULSALAM MOHAMMED
(EXECUTIVE SECRETARY OF ISLAMIC
HUMANITARIAN FOUNDATION)
REGINA THOMPSON
(INTERNATIONAL COMPASS MEDIATION ASSOCIATES)
MR
ABBASS MOHAMMED (EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT & ADVOCACY
GROUP : CODAG)
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