Don’t underrate religion in conflict resolution- Rev. Palmer-Buckle

Page 16, July 3, 2008
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Metropolitan Archbishop of Accra, Most Reverend Charles Palmer-Buckle has asked Parliamentarians in the West African sub-region not to underrate the role and influence of religion in conflict resolution.
“Religion is an indispensable tool in our socialisation and so religious culture must be allowed and included to help in our search for the best practice of conflict prevention, conflict management and lasting conflict resolution,” he said.
Addressing the opening session of a four-day training programme for selected members of the ECOWAS Parliament on conflict prevention and management in Accra yesterday, Most Rev Palmer-Buckle said a careful observation of all traditional festivals in the sub-region showed the very crucial role religion played in such festivals.
Dubbed “Strengthening the capacity of the ECOWAS Parliament to prevent and manage conflicts”, the purpose of the project is to develop the capacity of the MPs to enable them effectively exercise an their role in preventing and managing conflicts in the West Africa.
The project would carry out a series of seminars, training workshops and working group initiatives to develop seed institutional mechanisms, individual and organisational capacities and a strategic plan for conflict prevention and management role of the ECOWAS Parliament.
In her remarks, the In-Country Co-ordinator of the Parliamentary Centre, organisers of the training workshop, Ms Marilyn Aniwa noted that conflict was a phenomenon that occured when people with competing interests sought to fulfil those interests at the expense of others.
She stated that although democratic institutions could not completely resolve tensions, democracy could serve as a system of managing conflict and peace building.
Ms Aniwa said that Parliament, which represented a broad spectrum of the masses was uniquely designed top to address contentious issues and relationships.
She, therefore charged the participants to use their knowledge and influence to ensure that emerging conflicts within the sub-region did not escalate, thereby reducing the impact of violence conflicts on economic development.