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Day of Families Observed in Accra
Written by Helen M. Osei, Secretary General, UPF-Ghana
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Accra, Ghana - In collaboration with the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, UPF-Ghana organized a three-day program in commemoration of the UN International Day of Families May 13-15.
The three-day event, in line with the directives from the UPF International, began on May 13 with a visit to a church where the head, an Ambassador for Peace, organized a group of four families for an interaction on family issues. Afterwards, we visited another church where the head is a woman and a prophetess, while the husband is a Traditional Ruler; yet they have lived in harmony for 16 years.
The second day, May 14, witnessed first, a visit to the Ghana Muslim Mission, where one Ambassador for Peace organized six couples for interaction with us. Although it was somewhat unusual in this Muslim sect for husbands and wives sit together in a round-table discussion, the wives were so happy for the opportunity for such an interaction and looked forward to the next day and the Family Peace Award. From the Ghana Muslim Mission, we moved to the home of another couple in which the husband is a Unificationist while the wife and children are Catholics. Although the parents belong to different faiths, the fact that they have lived happily fit the criteria for a Family Peace Award. They expressed their joy at having been selected for the award.
The third day, May 15, was the main celebration day. Twenty-one families were nominated for the Family Peace Award. The focus was on families who have lived together for quite a few years without breaking apart even for one time. We called for families who have lived together for 15 years or more. Interestingly, the youngest couple nominated had lived together 15 years, and the oldest couple had been married for 56 years.
The event showcased the following:
- Explanation of the significance of the Peace Family Award
- Video presentation of UPF 2010 activities
- PowerPoint presentation on “The Family as the School of Love”
- Overview of the life story of UPF Founder Rev. Sun Myung Moon and an introduction to his autobiography
- The Ideal Family and World Peace
- Peace Family Award ceremony
Of the 21 families nominated, 15 families received the awards. Some of the families had circumstances that prevailed against them, and some came but did not fit the criteria.
At the end of the event, both the couples and their family members expressed their gratitude to UPF for such a laudable program especially in bringing Christian and Muslims families together in this manner. They requested that the event should not only be an annual program but an ongoing one, so as to build closer relationships among the various religious groups in the country.
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