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The Ghana-Turkey Corporation and Development Association (TUDEC) in collaboration with Galaxy International School, has honored four distinguished Ghanaians for their role in championing peace in the country at a Dinner held in Accra.

 The dinner dubbed, Peace and Dialogue If tar, is organized annually during the month of Ramadan to bring members of all religious groups at a roundtable to discuss matters of peace in the world, whilst observing the Muslim fast breaking.

 The Managing Director of TUDEC, Mr. Yussuf Temizkhan in his welcoming address, indicated that this year’s event was special because of the inclusion of the Peace Awards.

He added that the peace award was meant to encourage Ghanaians to spearhead dialogue as means of achieving peace, because it is through peace that the real human potential could be realized.

 He emphasized the need for love and tolerance among all people of the world, saying that TUDEC and the Galaxy School were committed to creating platforms for dialogue on peace, love and tolerance.

He congratulated all the awardees for the hard work that earned them the awards and expressed the hope that their commitment to peace would continue.

He recounted the various dialogue sections organized by the NGO in collaboration with other institutions especially the 2015 international conference held under the theme: ‘Love and tolerance: peaceful coexistence in diversity’.

The conference drew various dignitaries from all corners of the world, including John Pahl; professor of history at Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia, Scott C Alexander; Associate Professor of Islamic studies, Hakan Yesilover of the fountain Magazine, Most Rev. Palmer –Buckle,Rt Rev, Dr. Daniel Torto Sylvanus and Dr. NUhu Sharubtu; the National Chief Imam of Ghana and a host of others.

The main objective of that conference was to generate a platform of discussion among participants to instantiate the necessity of dialogue at personal, social as well as interfaith or inter-ethnic dialogue for mutual understanding.

The dignitaries thrilled the conference with powerful speeches on their commitment to peace and dialogue.

Mr. Yussuf Temizkhan noted that, the various speeches and discourse that took place at the 2015 international conference had been put together as a book.

The book was edited by Rev. Prof. Emmanuel Asante of the peace council and launched at another love and tolerance dialogue forum in 2016, at the Labadi Beach Hotel. He announced that copies of the book could be obtained free of charge at the Peace and Dialogue Iftar.

He concluded that, TUDEC’S commitment to this course would never extinguish but would culminate in more awards in future.

 The Awardees

 The awardees included Hon. Dr. Rashid Pelpuo, a Minister of State at the presidency, and Rev. Prof. Emmanuel Asante, Chairman of The National Peace Council. Others were the National Chief Imam, Dr. Shiekh Usman Nuhu Sharubtu and Bishop Daniel Torto, a bishop of the Anglican Church.

Dr. Rashid Pelpuo expressed happiness for the award and encouraged TUDEC to continue their good works, adding that he has never regretted associating with the NGO.

He indicated that The Flagstaff House is also proudly associated with TUDEC in their tumultuous move for peace and dialogue. He recalled his encounter with all the dignitaries at the 2015 conference, and the heartwarming discourse that took place and concluded that all organizations, foreign and local, religious or otherwise, must emulate the concern and love that TUDEC is showing to mankind.

In a message read on his behalf, The Chairman of the National Peace Council, Rev. Prof. Emmanuel Asante, thanked TUDEC for the honour done him.

He said, “Peace is central to the development of every nation and every individual or group that is committed to the promotion of peace, stability and coexistence is worth supporting. Therefore the commitment of TUDEC in this regard is worth supporting by all the people of Ghana.”

He reiterated his unending desire to associate with TUDEC in its continued effort at encouraging dialogue and promoting peace. He thus wished TUDEC well in all its endeavors.

On his part, Bishop Daniel Torto of the Anglican Church, praised TUDEC for their continued effort at encouraging dialogue as a means of settling differences.

He added that, TUDEC has become the champion of peace and dialogue, a fate that must continue till eternity.

He noted that, the world has become a global village with the aid of advanced technology, hence it is inevitable that people of different nationalities, races and religions cannot escape living and working together.

“Therefore in our diversity, dialogue, love and tolerance must be the thermometer” he said.

Sheikh Armiyawu, the Spokesperson of the National Chief Imam, in his usual lucid words, enumerated series of reasons for which there was no option for anyone than to dialogue.

 According to him, if peace is not an option, violence can never be an option too.

“Differences in human are inevitable, because that is the unquestionable natural phenomenon created by our maker. We cannot change the differences so we must live with it; therefore the only stabilizing factor is dialogue.

To him, TUDEC has become the beacon of hope for all Ghanaians, and for all the people of the world.

“TUDEC has become the leader in peace, unity, love and tolerance and therefore everybody must support TUDEC in this regard.”

He thanked TUDEC for the award and reiterated the Chief Imam’s commitment to making peace in Ghana.

Former Greater Accra Regional Minister, Sheikh IC Quaye, indicated that both Muslims and Christians are one, since they worship one God, hence the need to tolerate each other.

The Ghana Ambassador to Egypt was particularly excited that TUDEC brought together members of different religions on the same dining table, an initiative that can never be dreamt of in other jurisdictions.

He recalled how he was reprimanded by someone in another country for attending a Christian program, and he told that person that in Ghana, Christians and Muslims live side by side in peace and harmony.

He was thus filled with nostalgia seeing Christians and Muslims on the same table observing the Iftar. He commended the Turkish organization for putting the event together.

The participants drawn from diverse backgrounds were full of praise for TUDEC for putting together the initiative.

The program ended with a consensus that peace is indispensable and dialogue is the only true path to achieving it.