Peace Council Calls for Religious Tolerance

The National Peace Council (NPC) has appealed to Ghanaians to exercise restraint in their public commentary following the circulation of videos linked to alleged inciteful religious remarks, as well as separate footage showing a person reportedly restrained in handcuffs in the presence of individuals associated with law enforcement.

The Council stated that the two matters are distinct and cautioned the public against conflating them or drawing conclusions before the facts surrounding each incident have been fully established.

In a statement, the National Peace Council said: “The Council recognises the extremely sensitive religious dimension surrounding these matters and urges the public, including religious leaders, political actors, civil society organisations, and media practitioners, to exercise restraint, avoid drawing premature conclusions, and refrain from inflammatory commentary that could incite religious or communal tensions. Accountability, fairness, and respect for human dignity are essential to maintaining public confidence in our institutions and preserving Ghana’s tradition of peaceful coexistence.”

The Council therefore urged religious leaders, political actors, civil society organisations, and media practitioners to handle the issues with the utmost care, warning that inflammatory commentary could heighten tensions and threaten Ghana’s long-standing tradition of peaceful religious coexistence.

The Council stressed that accountability, fairness, and respect for human dignity remain essential to maintaining public confidence in state institutions and safeguarding social cohesion.

The Council disclosed that it is already engaging key religious and traditional authorities as part of efforts to prevent the developments from escalating into religious or communal tensions.

The statement added: “The National Peace Council is in direct contact with the Office of the National Chief Imam, the Christian Council of Ghana, and other religious and traditional authorities, and will continue to monitor developments closely. We urge all stakeholders to act responsibly with emotional maturity in public commentary and utterances to prevent this matter from becoming a source of religious tension or confrontation.”

The Council said the engagements would continue as it monitors developments and assesses any potential implications for national peace and stability.

It warned that careless remarks, especially on sensitive religious issues, could inflame passions and create unnecessary divisions among communities.

The intervention by the National Peace Council comes against the backdrop of growing public interest in the videos, which have generated discussions on social media and attracted reactions from different sections of the public.

The Council believes that the responsible handling of the situation is critical to preventing isolated incidents from developing into broader religious tensions.

The NPC stated that protecting that peaceful coexistence requires collective responsibility, particularly during moments when emotions are high.

It encouraged citizens to rely on verified information and appropriate institutional processes rather than social media speculation.

“By promoting respectful and measured discourse, we can collectively preserve and strengthen the peace, unity, and social cohesion that Ghana continues to enjoy,” the statement concluded.

About National Peace Council

The National Peace Council is a statutory peacebuilding institution established under the National Peace Council Act, 2011 (Act 818). Its mandate includes facilitating and developing mechanisms for conflict prevention, management, and resolution, as well as building sustainable peace in Ghana.