By Ghana News
Copyright ghanamma
Ghana’s Presidential Envoy for Interfaith and Ecumenical Relations, Elvis Afriyie-Ankrah, has reaffirmed Ghana’s unwavering commitment to peaceful coexistence, interfaith dialogue and freedom of belief as essential foundations for sustainable development and global stability.
He delivered the remarks at The Concordia Forum’s 3rd Annual Diplomatic Reception, held on the sidelines of the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), under the theme “Freedom to Believe Faith, Rights and the Challenge of Coexistence.”
The Concordia Forum (TCF), which marked its 15th anniversary last year, has become a significant platform for fostering dialogue, trust and collaboration among global leaders and changemakers.
Since its founding, the Forum has convened nearly 2,500 influential figures from public service, academia, entrepreneurship and civil society through retreats, high-level dialogues and flagship events across the Atlantic and throughout the Global South.
Over the years, its distinguished speakers have included OIC Secretary-General Hissein Brahim Taha; UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer; Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary David Lammy; former UK Prime Minister Theresa May; former Cabinet Minister Michael Gove; social activist and Head of the Thembekile Mandela Foundation, Ndileka Mandela; former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton; former US Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg; Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer; Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY); former US Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom Rashad Hussein; former Prime Ministers Mahathir Mohamad of Malaysia and Enrico Letta of Italy; the President of The Gambia, Adama Barrow; Turkish Minister of Industry and Technology, Mehmet Fatih Kacir and London Mayor Sadiq Khan.
In his address, Afriyie-Ankrah praised the Concordia Forum for its “transformative mission of building bridges where walls might otherwise exist,” stressing its critical role in elevating interfaith and human rights discourse to the highest diplomatic levels.
Drawing from Ghana’s own example, he highlighted the legacy of the country’s first President, Dr Kwame Nkrumah, whose introduction of the boarding school system went beyond education to foster unity among young people from diverse ethnic, cultural and religious backgrounds.
“Muslims and Christians have lived together in peace for generations,” he said, noting how Christian and Muslim families in Ghana celebrate Eid and Christmas together in a culture of mutual respect that “warms the heart and strengthens humanity.”
Turning to current leadership, Afriyie-Ankrah underscored that President John Dramani Mahama has consistently emphasized peace as the foundation of national progress.
He linked this principle to the President’s Reset Agenda and proposed 24-Hour Economy, affirming that inclusive growth can only be realized in a climate of stability and tolerance.
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He further explained his mandate as Presidential Envoy for Interfaith and Ecumenical Relations, which includes liaising with religious leaders, coordinating high-level interfaith engagements and advising the President on matters of religious freedom, extremism and coexistence across Ghana and the wider ECOWAS region.
“President Mahama has never taken Ghana’s peaceful coexistence for granted; instead, he has worked diligently to deepen it, knowing that unity is both our shield and our strength,” he emphasised.
Afriyie-Ankrah concluded by urging the international community to safeguard the universal right to believe or not to believe—freely, describing it as a cornerstone of human dignity and sustainable development.
“Together, let us reaffirm our commitment to peaceful coexistence as the bedrock of global solidarity,” he said, thanking the Concordia Forum for providing Ghana with a platform to share its perspective with the world.
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