World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development

LESSONS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF 21ST MAY AS WORLD DAY FOR CULTURAL DIVERSITY FOR DIALOGUE AND DEVELOPMENT.

In the wake of the September 2001 bombings of the World Trade Centre, the General Assembly of the United Nations welcomed the declaration by UNESCO for 21st May every year to be marked as a day for cultural diversity for dialogue and development. The relevance of marking this day is for the promotion of greater awareness on the crucial relationship between cultural diversity and development especially at a time the world is still grappling with terrorists’ attacks which have their roots in lack of basic understanding of cultural diversity as a tool for dialogue and development. Cultural diversity, if well understood should be a driving force for development, not only with respect to economic growth, but also as a means of leading to a more fulfilling intellectual, emotional and moral life.Cultural diversity is an asset that is indispensable for poverty reduction and the achievement of sustainable development. Indeed, a world with people with the same political ideology, culture, religion, beliefs, ethnic background among others would have been a very narrow and uninteresting world.

To understand cultural diversity better, it has the potential of making our communities, societies and nations rich where each and everyone has a unique role to play for total cohesive development.

Unfortunately for some, cultural diversity is being used as a tool for segregation, unrests, misunderstanding, and domination. The recent red flag that has been raised in certain areas regarding potential target of a terrorist group indeed speaks volumes of the lack of basic understanding of the importance of cultural diversity as an ingredient for fashioning out harmonious co-existence.  The value of unity for nation building is central in the declaration of 21 st May each year as a day for cultural diversity for dialogue and development. Cultural diversity should therefore be viewed as a chord binding the whole world to achieve prosperity, sustainable development and global peaceful existence. How well we use diversity in culture to a large extent, determines the usefulness of culture to communities and nations. Diversities in cultures are only useful if it does not lead to clashes.  For Ghanaians, the time to discuss Cultural diversity is now when the nation appears polarised along political cultures.

Cultural diversity is not only a tool for unity and peace but also a sign for development and prosperity. It should bring happiness among people and help to promote human rights, democratic norms and value. Unity in cultural diversity should create the feeling of love, trust, tolerance, and brotherhood among people. It is sad that for several years now many nations especially in Africa have been saddled with wide range of internal conflicts. Some as a result of cultural and ideological differences as much as it is impossible to have an absolute conflict free society, ideological and cultural differences should not provide the basis of conflicts.

We must take cognisance of the fact that democratic governance devoid of unity and cultural diversity is a bane to national development. World day for Cultural Diversity for development, among others seeks to draw attention to the need to encourage people and organisations to take solid actions to raise awareness worldwide on the importance of intercultural dialogue. As the world marks this day, let us endeavour to see ourselves first as Ghanaians blessed with diverse cultures that are essential for cohesive national development. For in spite of our different cultural orientations, we are still one people in one nation with a common destiny.

Bridging the gap between cultures is urgent and necessary for peace, stability and development. Campaign for cultural diversity for dialogue and development should start from the home where parents should instil in their children love and understanding for one another regardless of one’s tribe, race, religion political persuasion among others. If diversity of culture is well harnessed it should be an engine for sustainable development and a decisive weapon in the fight against poverty and not against one’s fellow human being.

By David Owusu-Amoah,  Deputy Director at the Information Services Department.