Politicians, media criticised

A reverend Minister of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG) has taken a swipe at the country’s political leaders and the media for their inaction and pronouncements, which, according to him, nearly plunged the country into chaos.
Rev. Kofi Dankwa, the New Akyem Tafo District Minister of the PCG, who did not specifically refer to events before or after the Supreme Court judgement on the 2012 elections, said while politicians made pronouncements based on ethnicity and other issues, the media, especially radio stations, filled the airwaves with false and provocative broadcast.

Such activities or pronouncements, he stated, heightened tension in the country to the extent that people were almost at one another’s throat.

Rev. Dankwa made the pronouncement at the 10th anniversary celebration of the PCG Ebenezer Congregation of the Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana (CRIG) at Akyem Tafo last Sunday.

Present at the ceremony were the Akyem Tafohene, Osabarima Edusei Peasa IV, and some of the top brass of the PCG, including the Clerk of the General Assembly, Rev. Dr Samuel Ayete-Nyampong.

The congregation, which started with very few people in the house of one of the members, had now grown to be one boasting hundreds of worshippers.

He said although the country was spared anarchy, it was currently not enjoying peace and advised politicians and journalists to place the interest of the country above their own by preaching reconciliation to unite the people.

“Our politicians and journalists, especially those working with the private radio stations, nearly plunged the country into chaos and anarchy.

“While the politicians, some of whom are corrupt, came out with all sorts of dangerous pronouncements based on ethnicity, journalists filled the airwaves with provocative lies aimed at causing confusion or mayhem,” Rev. Dankwa stated.

Rev. Dankwa, who later in a sermon condemned vices such as armed robbery, asked Christians to intensify the crusade against such vices to preserve the country for future generations.

Rev. Ayete-Nyampong said although the Supreme Court judgement did not result in violence, Ghanaians, especially Christians, should continue to preach peace.

Rev. Ayete-Nyampong expressed disgust about criminal activities in the country such as spousal killings and indicated that Ghana was in its bad times so Christians should pray fervently for God’s guidance, especially for spouses.

He advised Christians against going after false prophets and deities but rather God through Jesus Christ for happiness and salvation.

Osabarima Edusei Peasah, who chaired the function, was happy about the establishment of a branch of the PCG at CRIG and gave the assurance that he would support the congregation to grow.

Earlier, the congregation donated food and non-food items to the Ark Foundation Orphanage at Akyem Tafo, as well as pints of blood to the Akyem Tafo Government Hospital.

An amount of GH¢Ȼ6,280 was raised at the gathering to support the activities of the congregation, which is currently putting up a chapel.

By A. Kofoya-Tetteh/Daily Graphic/Ghana