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Interfaith Tourism World Club Calls for Faith-Based Tolerance to Strengthen National Peace
The Interfaith Tourism World Club (ITW Club) has called on Ghanaians to embrace faith-based tolerance and use tourism and cultural exchange as tools for promoting peace, unity and social cohesion across the country.
In a statement issued on August 20, 2026, the organisation said Ghana’s religious diversity should be regarded as a source of strength rather than division, stressing that people of different faiths can coexist peacefully despite differences in their beliefs and forms of worship.
The statement, issued by the Chief Executive Officer and President of the Interfaith Tourism World Club, Ernest K. Boateng, noted that Ghana is a country where church bells, calls to prayer and traditional drums can be heard within the same communities.
According to the organisation, this religious diversity demonstrates the country’s ability to accommodate different faith traditions while maintaining national unity.
“Faith-based tolerance” was described as the willingness to live peacefully with people who do not share the same beliefs, while working together, trading together and contributing to the development of Ghana.
The ITW Club said Christianity, Islam, African Traditional Religion and other faith traditions share important values, including love for neighbours, compassion and respect for the dignity of every human being.
The organisation further highlighted the role tourism can play in promoting understanding among people of different religious backgrounds.
It said visits to mosques, cathedrals, shrines, sacred groves and other religious and cultural sites should not be viewed as a threat to an individual’s faith.
Instead, the organisation believes such experiences can help people gain a deeper understanding of other religious traditions and cultures.
The ITW Club encouraged Christians to participate in Muslim festivals, Muslims to explore Christian heritage sites and all Ghanaians to respect traditional customs and sacred practices.
According to the organisation, such interactions can help people recognise the shared values of peace and human dignity that exist across different faith traditions.
The Interfaith Tourism World Club stressed that religious tolerance should not be passive but should involve deliberate actions aimed at protecting peace and strengthening relationships among communities.
It said tolerance should involve choosing dialogue instead of insults, protecting places of worship and teaching children that religious differences should not be viewed as threats.
The organisation also urged Ghanaians to recognise religious diversity as an asset that can contribute to national development.
The ITW Club called on young people to use tourism as an opportunity to learn about different communities, cultures and faiths.
It urged the youth to travel, interact with people from different religious backgrounds and become “Ambassadors of Harmony” who can promote peaceful coexistence.
The organisation believes increased interaction among young people from different faith traditions can help reduce prejudice and create stronger bonds across communities.
Faith leaders were also encouraged to play a greater role in promoting religious unity.
The ITW Club called on religious leaders to continue preaching unity from their pulpits, minbars and traditional shrines while openly condemning hate and supporting peaceful coexistence.
It said religious leaders have an important responsibility to influence their followers positively and ensure that places of worship become platforms for peace rather than division.
The organisation further appealed to communities to collectively protect sacred and religious sites across the country.
It called for festivals and cultural celebrations to be used as opportunities for interaction and understanding, rather than occasions that create barriers between people.
The ITW Club said communities can strengthen national unity by allowing cultural and religious festivals to serve as bridges connecting people from different backgrounds.
The organisation also appealed directly to all Ghanaians to reject hostility towards people of different faiths.
It stressed that a person with a different religious belief should not be regarded as an enemy, but as a fellow Ghanaian who can be a neighbour, brother, sister, business partner and contributor to national development.
The ITW Club said its mission extends beyond tourism, explaining that it seeks to unite people of diverse faiths across Africa and the diaspora through travel and cultural exchange.
Through its activities, the organisation aims to promote interfaith dialogue and mutual understanding while contributing to peace, social cohesion and sustainable tourism.
The organisation described Ghana’s peaceful coexistence among different religious communities as one of the country’s most important tourism assets.
It said Ghana’s tourism appeal should not be measured only by its beaches, castles and other physical attractions, but also by the country’s ability to maintain peace despite religious differences.
The ITW Club said the ability of Ghanaians to disagree on matters of faith while remaining united as citizens is a strength that should be protected and promoted.
The organisation concluded its appeal by urging Ghanaians to live in harmony, travel in unity and work together towards building a peaceful and united Ghana.
The statement was issued by Ernest K. Boateng, CEO and President of the Interfaith Tourism World Club (ITW Club).
For further information, the organisation provided info@itwclub.org and +233 246362838.