Political parties must not destabilise peace, security — Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council

A call has been made to all political parties to desist from comments that have the potential to destabilise the peace and security of the country.

Political parties have therefore been charged to rather focuss on issues that are at the core of the country's development agenda such as issues of poor sanitation, unemployment and poverty among others.

Speaking at the launch of the 50th anniversary celebration of the Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council (GPCC) in Accra on Sunday, the President of GPCC, Prof. Rev. Paul Frimpong-Manso, pledged the council’s support towards politics of decency and decorum.

Leaked audio tape recording

Following a controversial leaked audio tape recording suspected to be the voice of the National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, who allegedly was inciting his party's communicators against some state officials, Rev. Prof. Frimpong-Manso maintained that “such utterances were extremely dangerous and needed not to be encouraged in the country's body political discourse”.

“For a person of his calibre, I do not want to believe that he said what has been leaked. But whatever way it is, we should not run this country by inciting and creating division, tension and anger against opposing forces.

 We know that such pronouncements are crude, evil and destructive and those who want us to entrust the country into their hands to govern should not come out with such means to take power or keep power,” he postulated.

“The two parties, the NDC and the New Patriotic Party (NPP), and their communicators should stay away from that because nobody is going to follow their lies, tricks and propaganda any longer.

 Ghanaians are now wise and discerning,” he added.

Vigilantism

On political vigilantism, Rev. Prof. Frimpong-Manso further added his voice to the fight against the trending menace and charged all political parties to immediately disband any of such groups in their camps or face total rejection by the council and its members.

“All we are saying is that vigilantism is satanic and we want those groups dissolved as soon as possible.

 This council has a membership of eight million people and so any party that refuses to do away with its vigilante groups will be rejected by this council and its members.

GPCC is ready to join any dialogue to that effect,” he cautioned.

He observed that vigilantism was gradually plunging the country into chaos and may result in terrorism or even worse situations if it was not tackled immediately.

Galamsey exposé

Following the latest exposé by the investigative journalist, Anas Aremeyaw Anas, on illegal mining dubbed “Galamsey Fraud,” Rev. Prof. Frimpong-Manso also pledged his support for the fight against the menace and called on President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to sanction anybody who would be found culpable after it was investigated.    

That, he said would serve as a deterrent to those who were foiling the state’s efforts to fight the menace.  

“Through Anas, some judges were sacked and through him some Ghana Football Association (GFA) officials have been sacked.

 So if the President finds some culprits who are cheating the nation by subverting his efforts to ban galamsey, then those people should not be protected by any government.

 They should also be sacked so that we will know that everybody is under the law,” he said.

Poor Sanitation

He bemoaned the state of poor sanitation in the country and called on the relevant authorities to take steps to check it because it threatened the country’s tourism and the health of its citizens.

“We also take the opportunity to tell our Municipal, Metropolitan and District Chief Executives (MMDCE) to be proactive when it comes to the issue of sanitation.

He asked them not to wait until the raining season before they decide to find solutions to the harm that would be caused,” he said.

He, however, said that GPCC was already doing  a lot to help improve sanitation in the country and pledged the council’s support to do more in solidarity with the President’s vision to make Accra the cleanest city in Africa.  

Discipline

For his part, the Greater Accra Regional Chairman of GPCC, Rev. Dr J.K.K Baisie enjoined member churches of the council to speak the truth to their congregation.

He observed that many churches failed to speak the truth to their congregation for the fear of losing them due to the proliferation of churches.

“It is difficult to discipline people who are close to us and they get annoyed when we preach the truth to them.

 But let us rise to the occasion no matter how difficult it may seem. We are not doing it for humanity but for Christ,” he said.  

Golden Jubilee

The celebration is being observed under the theme: “Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council: Celebrating 50 years of Pentecostal Influence.”

It will be characterised by series of events such as public lectures, health bazaar and sanitation and clean up exercises.

The celebration is expected to be climaxed in October at the Black Star Square in Accra with thanksgiving.