The Moderator of the Global Evangelical Church (GEC), Rt Rev. Dr Edem Tettey, has called on political parties to implement national policies which will be critical to the national development of the country.
National policies, to him, were far better than party manifestos which allowed political parties to deceive the people of Ghana during election years.
The moderator made the observation in an interview with the Daily Graphic after he led a consecration service of 18 presbyters at the Amakom Parish of the Global Evangelical Church in Kumasi.
Rev. Tettey said both the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the opposition, New Patriotic Party (NPP), had failed Ghanaians in terms of their party manifestos and this did not augur well for the advancement of society.
He noted that when the NDC was in government (from 1992 to 2000), it had its policies as contained in its manifesto and when all eyes were on the NPP in opposition to deliver on its policies as contained in its manifestos, it also did same when it came to power from 2001 to 2008.
What to him would only bring positive change in the country was the drawing of national policies and allowing the political party that would be in government to follow them, stating that: "with national policies in place, it does not matter which political party wins election. Either NDC or NPP in government could easily follow the national policy to take Ghana to a higher height."
He recalled, for examples that (on education) when the NPP wanted Senior High School (SHS) duration to be four years, the NDC wanted it to be three years as it is currently "which is an affront to students, parents and guardians and does not help society to grow.”
The state could have a national policy on education, agriculture, employment and other disciplines which no political party in government can deviate from." He however called on all religious bodies and the civil society to join hands with all political parties in the country to endorse national policies for the betterment of all.
Energy crisis
On the energy crisis Rev. Tettey said there was the need for all churches to pray for the President, Mr John Dramani Mahama, and the nation.
He emphasised that it was the biblical duty of the church to pray to support the development of the nation, especially in supporting leaders to solve the current energy crisis of the nation quoting First Timothy Chapter Two to buttress his point.
He said everybody, including religious leaders, had the right to be bold and advise the government, especially in the face of the daunting odds and offer constructive criticisms of government policies, and called on all to support the three arms of government - the Executive, the Legislature and the Judiciary.
