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Women urged to champion peace, religious tolerance at Ahmadiyya peace symposium
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Religious leaders, gender advocates and peacebuilding experts have called for stronger collaboration among women, faith-based organisations and state institutions to promote peace, religious tolerance and national cohesion amid growing global insecurity.
The call was made at the Third Peace Symposium organised by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Women Association (Lajna Ima’illah Ghana) on the theme: “Building a Peaceful World: The Role of Women.”
The symposium brought together representatives of various religious groups, civil society organisations and peace institutions to discuss the role of women in fostering peaceful coexistence.
Ms Amina Bin Salih, a Gender Consultant and member of Lajna Ima’illah Ghana, said the symposium sought to dispel misconceptions about Islam by projecting its true teachings of peace, justice and compassion.
She observed that although Islam had often been misunderstood or misrepresented, its core message remained one of peaceful coexistence and respect for humanity.
“The true teachings of Islam are about peace, embracing everyone and living harmoniously with one another,” she said.
Ms Salih, in her keynote speech revisited the teachings of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him), the Promised Messiah and the institution of Khilafat, describing spiritual leadership as essential to preserving the authentic teachings of Islam.
She stressed that sustained advocacy for peace was necessary at a time of increasing global conflicts and insecurity.
“We must continue inviting people to peace because if we stop speaking about peace, nothing changes. We need to return to our Creator and sincerely practise the values our faiths teach,” she stated.
On the role of women, Ms Salih described them as agents of change capable of influencing families and communities through their nurturing responsibilities.
“When women embrace peace, they influence their children and families to do the same. Children must be raised to understand the true teachings of religion so they grow into responsible and peaceful citizens,” she added.
She noted that despite progress in advancing gender equality, persistent challenges, including domestic violence and other forms of gender-based violence, required sustained public education and stronger institutional responses.
Mrs Levinia Addae-Mensah, Executive Director of the West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP), said the symposium underscored two critical pillars of sustainable peacebuilding: religion and women’s leadership.
She said religion should not merely be practised as a ritual but reflected in everyday conduct, adding that genuine faith should inspire compassion, justice and peaceful coexistence.
“The event reminded me that irrespective of our different faiths, what matters is how we live our lives and the relationship we maintain with God,” she said.
Mrs Addae-Mensah also challenged prevailing narratives that portray women as passive participants in peacebuilding, insisting that women were already leading peace initiatives in communities across the country.
“Women are not waiting to be included. Women are already building peace and leading peaceful processes in many communities,” she noted.
The symposium saw some invitees from different religions and traditions in attendance and some participants given special peace award.
Hajia Anisa Nasirudeen Iddris, National President of Lajna Ima’illah Ghana, said the decision to invite leaders from different religious traditions reflected the association’s commitment to promoting interfaith dialogue as a tool for peace.
She said no single religious organisation could achieve lasting peace alone, stressing that collective voices carried greater influence in addressing violence and instability.
“Women and children suffer the most whenever there is conflict. That is why women across all faiths must unite to advocate for peace and inspire positive action,” she said.
Hajia Iddris explained that Islam encouraged peaceful coexistence and respect for followers of all religions, noting that humanity’s shared responsibility should transcend religious and ethnic differences. GNA
A Prophet and General Overseer of Jesus Prayer Ministry at Ejisu Asuasi, Kumasi, and Pig Farm, Accra, Rt. Rev. Dr Mrs Grace Frimpong-Boateng, has urged Ghanaians to pray fervently to avert any disaster that would endanger many.
“God hears prayers, and intercessory prayers will provide your family safety and protection so you can live long and enjoy life in this world,” she added.
Rt. Rev. Dr Mrs Frimpong-Boateng was speaking with The Spectator in an interview last week.
According to her, she had a revelation that there would be a tragedy that will harm many people, however, effective prayers can avert it.
She said that the Ghana Meteorological Agency (GMet) predicted another heavy downpour from Thursday to Sunday following the recent torrential rain that devastated Accra and other areas. However, strong intercessory prayers prevented the prediction, which would have been catastrophic.
She claims that whenever she shares something that God has revealed to her, she does not receive widespread support from people to join her in effective intercession.
As a result, she has urged everyone including members of parliament, cabinet ministers, traditional authorities, religious leaders, and other citizens to exercise caution and pray fervently in order to avoid premature death.
According to Rt. Rev. Dr Mrs Frimpong-Boateng the recent downpour in Accra which claimed lives and destroyed property was unusual.
“The sea was irritated because of certain rituals performed and caused it to spew forth, exposing the dirt.” There are still some rites in the sea, and they will definitely surface,” she disclosed.
“Let’s pray that God would burn and destroy the things that have contaminated the sea,” she indicated.
By Spectator
The Adentan Circuit Court has convicted a mason for stealing a four-year-old boy from Kpedze in the Volta Region and bringing him to Accra.
David Kpandoyo, 25, a Togolese national, pleaded guilty to a charge of child stealing.
The court, presided over by Mrs Angela Attachie, convicted him on his own plea and adjourned sentencing to July 14, 2026.
Kpandoyo told the court that he had gone to a drinking spot to consume alcohol when the child approached him.
He said he gave the boy some money, took him home, and could not remember what happened afterwards because he was intoxicated.
Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Patience Mario, assisted by Chief Inspector Jacob Nyarko, led the prosecution.
The prosecution said the complainant, Mr Bismark Gbago, is a 52-year-old painter residing at New Legon in Accra.
The victim’s mother, Ms Patience Ablordefey Afefa, is a 25-year-old hairdresser living at Kpedze in the Volta Region with the victim, a Kindergarten One pupil.
The prosecution said Kpandoyo also resided at New Legon, where he worked as a mason.
It said the victim went missing at Kpedze on July 1, 2026, at about 18:00 hours.
On July 3, at about 6:30pm, the complainant reported to the New Legon Police that he had found the four-year-old boy wandering around the area and that the child was unable to identify his home.
The prosecution said that on July 4, at about 4 p.m., the complainant informed the Police that after announcements were made within the community, Kpandoyo came forward claiming that the boy was his son.
The complainant and Kpandoyo subsequently went to the police Station to identify the child.
However, Kpandoyo was unable to produce the child’s birth certificate or lead the Police to the child’s mother.
Later that day, the police received a flyer bearing the name and telephone numbers of the victim’s mother, together with the child’s photograph, indicating that he had gone missing from Kpedze.
The police contacted the victim’s mother and asked her to report to the New Legon Police Station with the child’s birth certificate and weighing card because another person was claiming to be the child’s parent.
On July 6, the victim’s mother and her relatives reported to the Police Station and stated that they did not know Kpandoyo.
During investigations, Kpandoyo admitted in his cautioned statement that the victim was not his child.
He further confessed that while working at Kpedze, he stole the boy and brought him to Accra. –GNA
