Posted on:
www.dailyguideghana.com
By William Yaw
Owusu
Tuesday,
November 15, 2016
The
New Patriotic Party (NPP) presidential candidate for the December 7 election,
Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has been selected to receive the Mother Teresa
Memorial International Award for Social Justice in India.
The
award is coming at a time the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and its
leadership have made it their agenda to tag him a violent person.
The
awards ceremony, which is slated for Sunday, November 20 in Mumbai, India’s
commercial capital, is given to people all over the world who have distinguished
themselves in the areas of democracy, human rights and social justice.
A
news release issued from the NPP Communication Directorate said Nana Akufo-Addo
is expected to deliver the keynote address at the award event on the theme,
“Combating Terror Through Education and Peace.”
Nana
Akufo-Addo is said to have been selected for the award largely because of the way
he conducted himself when the 2012 election results were declared - apart from
his immense contribution towards shaping the rule of law in Ghana.
Immediately
the Supreme Court ruled that President John Mahama was validly elected by the
Electoral Commission after the 8-month trial, Nana Akufo-Addo accepted the
court’s verdict, eventhough he said he did not agree to the decision and told
his followers to also follow his example, at a time the political atmosphere
was highly charged.
Dr.
Abraham Mathai, President of the Foundation, explaining the decision to nominate
Nana Akufo-Addo for the award, said “The manner in which you (Nana Akufo-Addo)
sacrificed your presidential ambition by accepting to preserve peace in the
West African nation of Ghana, at a time of high tension, thereby preventing
civil war, is truly remarkable.”
Dr.
Abraham Mathai further said that Nana Addo’s “statesman-like qualities have
truly distinguished you as the defender of democracy which should be emulated
far and beyond.”
According
to the statement, the conference is aimed at containing violent extremism and
radicalization among youths in India and across nations who are vulnerable to
radical groups, in the emergence of extremist outfits across the world.
The
statement quoted the foundation as saying, “The threat from violent extremism
is a global and generational struggle and therefore, we understand that the
menace of terrorism may be best fought by education and peace. Society today
needs peace, tolerance and cohesion to peacefully coexist together in harmony
contrary to peddling extremism, hate and xenophobia.”
According
to Dr. Mathai, “The potential candidate for president in the next elections in
the nation of Ghana will greatly enhance the stature and profile of the
International Conference where you will give the keynote address.”
The
event will also posthumously honour Faaraz Ayaaz Hossain, the brave Bangladeshi
youth who was killed in the Dhaka terror attack on July 1, 2016, for refusing
to leave behind his friends who were from other countries.
In
attendance will be human rights activists, prominent members of civil society,
diplomats and members of the Indian government.
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