Dr. Lawrence Tetteh Calls on Religious Leaders to Contribute to Global Peace Efforts

Renowned International Evangelist, Dr. Lawrence Tetteh, has urged religious leaders to leverage their influence for the promotion of global peace, especially in the current climate of heightened geopolitical tensions. Speaking at a youth conference in Malabo, the capital city of Equatorial Guinea, Dr. Tetteh emphasized the crucial role that religious leader can play in supporting peace initiatives, a task often challenging for political world leaders.

According to Ghana News Agency, religious leaders, particularly preachers of the gospel, have a responsibility to propagate peace, aligning with the biblical directive for Christians to live in peace with all individuals. His remarks were made during a seven-day event hosted by Apostle Dr. Richard Milam Akubiro, leader of the Livingstone Ministries International.

Dr. Tetteh expressed concern over the modern trend of neglecting dialogue in conflict resolution. He underscored dialogue as the most effective means to build mutual understanding and trust between opposing groups. As an international relations expert and a global patron of the International Youth Network for the United Nations Security Council 2250, Dr. Tetteh lamented the devastating impacts of violent conflicts on lives and socio-economic activities.

He called on Christian leaders to intensify their roles as peace ambassadors, advocating for the adoption of Christlike principles such as justice, empathy, and forgiveness in resolving conflicts.

The 2023 Global Peace Index report, released by the international think-tank, the Institute for Economics and Peace, in June, indicates a concerning rise in conflict deaths. The report reveals that deaths from global conflict have increased by 96% to 238,000, marking the highest level this century and leading to a decline in world peacefulness. Notably, the report shows that Ethiopia has a higher number of conflict deaths than Ukraine, surpassing the peak during the Syrian war. It also highlights those 79 countries, including Ethiopia, Myanmar, Ukraine, Israel, and South Africa, have experienced increased levels of conflict.

The economic impact of violence has also escalated significantly. The report notes a 17% increase in the global economic impact of violence, amounting to $17.5 trillion in 2022, equivalent to 13% of global GDP.

International media reports have brought attention to the conflict in Gaza, stating that more than 8,000 Palestinians have been killed since Israeli declared war on Gaza following an attack by Hamas on October 7, which resulted in over 1,400 deaths.