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Professor Stephen Adei
Professor Stephen Adei

Clergy urged to be more involved in politics

A Former Rector of the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), Prof. Stephen Adei, has asked the clergy to get involved in issue-based politics that would transform the country.

He also urged the church to speak against the unjust structures and mechanisms in society that made it possible for corruption to triumph.

“Church members pay tax and so the clergy must be interested in how the resources that accrue from such taxes are utilised. The Church must not sit unconcerned when some politicians make irresponsible comments that could spark violence,” he added.

He was speaking at the opening session of the biennial National Clergy Conference of the Ghana Anglican Clergy Association (GACA) in Accra.

The four-day conference was on the theme, “Fulfilling your Ministry and Enhancing Democracy in Ghana; the Role of the Anglican Priest”.  It brought together the clergy from all the 11 dioceses of the Anglican Church across the country.

Clergy must act

 Prof. Adei said the silence of the clergy on issues of national concern for fear of victimisation undermined accontability by political leaders and urged them tp speak out.

He, therefore, admonished the clergy to use the pulpit to educate their members and the public on national issues in order to equip them to be responsible citizens.

“There is a difference between issue-based politics and partisanship. Many Christians fear to speak out because they fear that they will be tagged as belonging to one political party or the other.

“It is our responsibility as religious people to ensure that the right people are elected to rule us. As ambassadors of Jesus Christ, we need to be interested in how people are ruled,” he said.

Fair play

The acting Chairman of GACA, Venerable Emmanuel Mensah, observed that democracy was founded on religious values such as selflessness, sacrifice, and service to humanity.

He, therefore, called on the EC to be transparent and fair to all political parties to prevent the situation where some parties would feel cheated.

“Democracy without credible elections is dangerous and costly. As Christians, we will continue to pray; but there should be fairness and justice to all political parties,” he said.

The Priest in charge of the Christ Anglican Church of Ghana, Venerable Dr George K. Neequaye, observed that the Church ought to play a reconciliatory role in the political process.

He said the winner-takes-all system of democracy the country was practising was a recipe for disgruntled members to resort to violence, since they felt left out.

He also urged the Church to be a mouthpiece for the underprivileged and vulnerable in society.

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