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The National Peace Council (NPC) has raised concerns about the increasing level of insults and hate speech directed at clergy, politicians, chiefs, and other prominent individuals on radio and television stations in Ghana.
The Council also highlighted the worrying trend of some political actors and religious militants, including Christians, advocating for violence.
Reverend Dr. Ernest Adu-Gyamfi, Chairman of the National Peace Council, expressed these concerns, noting that the Church’s passive response and stakeholders’ reliance on the Council to address these issues neglect the Church’s duty and responsibility.
He made these remarks at the 61st annual refresher course, retreat, and business session of the Ghana Baptist Convention Ministers’ Conference held in Ejura, Ashanti region.
This year’s conference was held on the theme: “Ministerial Ethics, Accountability and Responsibility in the 21st Century Church.”
Rev. Dr. Adu-Gyamfi mentioned that last year, Ghana lost its position as the most peaceful country in West Africa on the Global Peace Index to Sierra Leone. Additionally, Ghana dropped from being the second most peaceful country in Africa to the fourth position.
“While the church in Ghana continues to glory in the fact that we have 72 percent Christians in Ghana, our numbers do not correspond to the peace, stability, and cohesion that one would have expected in a country with that number of Christians.
“If 72 per cent Ghanaians are Christians, why are we on this trajectory”, he inquired.
He said the leaders of the church had a responsibility to give direction to Ghana through their pulpits, adding that churches “could advocate through our Councils instead of allowing the media and politicians to dictate the pace and the future of our country.”
Regarding the upcoming general election in December, he stated that the election would serve as a test for the peace, unity, stability, cohesion, and resilience of the country. Ministers of churches have a responsibility to preach and demonstrate peace for their congregation to emulate.
“As individual leaders and collectively as a denomination, let us lead our nation through our ministerial ethics and accountability such that after this year’s election, there will not be a single bloodshed in the country.
You have a responsibility as Ministers of the Gospel to protect the peace of our country by shaping the hearts and minds of Ghanaians towards peaceful co-existence, right behaviour, and politics without insults and violence”, he counselled.
Administrator of the District Assemblies Common Fund, Mrs. Irene Naa Torshie Addo-Lartey, urged Ghanaians to champion tolerance and peace.
She emphasized Ghana’s role as a beacon of democracy and called on leaders in politics and religion to ensure that democratic vibrancy is matched by civil discourse, fostering an atmosphere where diverse views are accepted and harmony prevails.
President of the Baptist Ministers’ Conference, Rev. Dr. Charles Owusu Ampofo, urged the government to be prudent with its expenditure while ensuring that the citizenry receives a fair share of the national resources.
credit;tigpost.co
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