The apprehension of violence gripping Ghana's civil society as Election 2008 fast approaches seems to have spread to the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) but in typical God-fearing Ghanaian fashion, the country's military establishment is not threatening bullets, but offering prayers so that all will go well before, during and after the elections.

The GAF Public Relations Directorate this week announced a special Non-Denominational Religious Service for Sunday 30th November 2008 to pray for peace in the forthcoming elections.

The Service is being organized for all ranks, families and civilian employees within 5 Garrison of the Ghana Armed Forces. An officer at the Directorate of Public Relations of the Ghana Armed Forces who pleaded anonymity told ADM that even though the military will do its best to ensure peaceful elections, the religious service would also go a long way to help bring peace to the country.

He said "everybody is talking about peace so it is very important that the Ghana Armed Forces will also do everything within its power both physically and spiritually to ensure peace in the country".

ADM sounded out some of the leading political players and they were all broadly appreciative of GAF's initiative. Mr. John Dramani Mahama the vice presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress has said, "If the GAF thinks it needs spiritual intervention in support of its daily work to maintain peace and order before, during and after the elections, then it is a good idea and I am in support of that."

He said the GAF should show professionalism in the discharge of its duties because as security personnel their loyalty to the state should be above loyalty to any political party or individual.

The Communication Director of Nana Akufo-Addo's campaign Dr. Arthur Kennedy said the campaign team is in support of the Ghana Armed Forces to seek spiritual intervention from God to maintain peace and order during the elections.

"Peace ", he said, "is what the country needs and the campaign team would support anything that will bring peace to the country before, during and after the elections." Dr. Kennedy commended the efforts of the Armed Forces to maintain peace and order in the country and urged them to continue with the good work in order to make the December elections peaceful.

The GAF has gained an impressive reputation abroad as an efficient peacekeeping force very much in demand for UN Peacekeeping Missions. Senior Ghanaian Generals like General Erskine, General Seth Obeng, General Anyidoho and others have all served with distinction as peacekeepers abroad.

The GAF's peacekeeping missions abroad started when the young country of Ghana was barely 10 years old and her soldiers were called upon to serve in Congo, which sadly has still seen no lasting peace. Just last week, the country erupted in another paroxysm of violence creating another major humanitarian problem for the international community.

The Ghana Armed Forces in calling for prayers instead of bullets in the elections is establishing yet another benchmark in the country's search for a lasting democratic and constitutional dispensation.