GHANA MARKS PEACE ROAD 2024

Written by UPF-Africa
Monday, September 24^th, 2024

Accra, Ghana―On August 17, 2024, Ghana celebrated the Peace Road 2024 event, a significant initiative aimed at promoting peace, unity, and health. The event featured three main segments: a Peace Walk, a Health Talk, and a Football Match, bringing together participants from various communities in Accra.

Peace Walk and Health Talk

The event began at 9:30 AM with a prayer led by Pastor Paul Akoto of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (FFWPU). The Peace Walk commenced at the Achimota Old Station, a well-known landmark in Accra, accompanied by a brass band and Police Crowd Managers ensuring safety. The walk concluded at Mile 7 Park, where the second phase of the program took place.

Upon arrival, the UPF Chairman - Hon. Frank F. Adongo, led the lighting of the Peace Candle, followed by the Ghanaian National Anthem. A second prayer was offered by Apostle Dr. John Asante, Co-chair of the Interreligious Association for Peace and Development (IAPD).

Rev. James A. Aidoo, the National President of FFWPU, delivered the opening remarks, emphasizing the role of peace icons in global peace-building efforts. He acknowledged the pioneering work of Rev. Dr. Sun Myung Moon and Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon, co-founders of UPF, in advancing global peace initiatives.

Following this, Dr. Cephas Avoka, a distinguished medical practitioner, delivered an insightful talk on “Health, Sports, and Peace.” His presentation underscored the powerful link between sports, physical health, and peacebuilding, highlighting how sports can serve as a unifying force in society.

Peace Soccer Cup

The third phase of the event featured the Peace Soccer Cup, a football match between two professional Ghanaian teams:

• Santa All Stars Football Club
• Pacesetters Academy

The exciting match ended with a 2-1 victory in favor of Santa All Stars. Medals were awarded to the goalkeepers of both teams and the best player of the match. Archbishop Ezekiel Goodman Anim, UPF President, presented special trophies and cash prizes to both teams, adding to the celebratory atmosphere, which included the use of party poppers and champagne.

Peace Declaration and Closing

The event concluded with the signing of a Peace Declaration by leaders from the hosting organizations: FFWPU, Women’s Federation for World Peace (WFWP), UPF, Ghana National Service (GNS), and Youth and Students for Peace (YSP). The declaration called for collaboration between the government and civil organizations to ensure peaceful and fair elections on December 7, 2024.

To close the event, Apostle Dr. Solomon Siaw-Kwetsu offered a vote of thanks and led a closing prayer, bringing the successful program to a heartfelt conclusion.

An Outstanding Success

The event drew an unexpected 212 participants, many of whom testified that they had seen the event flyer just days before and decided to attend. Overall, the Peace Road 2024 in Ghana was regarded as a groundbreaking success, with participants and organizers alike anticipating a lasting impact from the event.