Help Ghana attain nationhood – Catholic Bishops tell Ghanaians
The Ghana Catholic Bishops Conference (GCBC) has urged Ghanaians to rededicate themselves to help the country attain nationhood.
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“We have not yet attained the status of a nation strong in unity,” it said.
In its 2017 Lenten Pastoral Letter, the bishops said tribalism, ethnocentrism and partisan political conduct were very rife in the Ghanaian body politic.
“The shame and bane of our very recent past electioneering and political campaigning, not forgetting the post-election agitations and misconduct by some misguided political party activists, attest to the deepening political disunity in the country,” it said.
The letter, which was signed by the President of the GCBC, the Most Rev Philip Naameh, the Archbishop of Tamale, observed further that of late ethnocentric sentiments and partisan political considerations played determining roles in marriage, job-seeking, land-acquisition, the choice of even political and traditional leadership.
It said it should be the vision of all Ghanaians that Ghana became “One Nation, One People with One Destiny”.
Lent
Lent, in the Catholic Church’s liturgical year, is the period from Ash Wednesday to Holy Thursday, before the three days of the saving passion, death and resurrection of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. It is a time for self-examination and repentance.
This year, Ash Wednesday falls on Wednesday, March 1, while Holy Thursday falls on April 13. The six-week period between the two dates is what is designated as Lent among Catholics.
During Lent, the church invites Catholics to reflect on their personal lives and their relationship with God and their neighbours. It is a period marked increasingly with intense listening to the word of God, alms giving, prayer and fasting.
Ghana
The letter acknowledged the theme chosen for the Diamond Jubilee of the country, as it called for stock-taking — a key element of the season of Lent — planning and mobilising for the future.
In a reflection on the letters that spelt Ghana, the bishops said G stood for God, H for Heritage, A for Achievements, N for Nation and A for Africa.
It said God had blessed the country with so much, for which Ghanaians must be thankful.
It, however, said if God had truly been good to the country, then Ghanaians must eschew the vices that had engulfed society, such as bribery and corruption, armed robbery and the sale and use of narcotic substances.
“As a people incurably religious and God-fearing, let us work hard, be honest and just in all we do, accepting and giving no bribes, doing away with all forms of corruption and immorality. Only in this way shall we and our descendants enjoy God’s abundant blessings and favours on our homeland Ghana,” it said.
On the country’s heritage, it said just as the forefathers toiled and shed their blood for Ghana, Ghanaians must acknowledge the contributions of those serving the country in various professions and roles.
The exhortation also urged Ghanaians to acknowledge and be proud of the achievements of Ghanaians, most especially “our heroes and heroines of the past 60 years in all sectors of Ghana’s political development, cultural and social life”.