Political platform not for insults -Rev. Minister

By: Ernest Best Anane, Kumasi

Rev. Father Philip Opoku Nyame, Parish Priest of the St. Anthony Catholic Church at Pankrono, a suburb of Kumasi, has advised Christians to exhibit decorum and allow the love of God to guide them in their discussion of political issues.

The Rev. Minister told The Chronicle that a political opponent is not necessarily an enemy, and for that matter party members should not use a political platform as an opportunity to attack or abuse an opponent in the name of politics.

“Being one people with a common destiny, it is proper we rather fight against poverty and unemployment, which is the greatest enemy of the citizenry as a whole,” he said.

According to him, Christians are expected to play active roles in promoting good governance, peace, the rule of law and denouncing injustice, adding that God was the only source of peace and moral order, and without him, our efforts will be meaningless.

“Our thoughts and behaviors in our homes, work places, and in the churches, must preach peace and unity amongst one another, as well as respect for our pastors and those in authority,” he said. He further urged politicians not to insult each other because of politics, or use political power to intimidate political opponents.

According to the man of God, Africa had experienced much electoral violence for the past three decades, and that after more than a century of Christianity, some Christian leaders in many African countries still resort to excessive particularised and ethnocentrism in managing the affairs of a state. This, he said, leads to the political exclusion of some ethnic groups, and becomes a recipe for civil unrests.

He urged political leaders to always focused on what would bring development to help raise the living standard of the electorate, which he said, would help the populace gain confidence in them as leaders.

Rev. Nyame further expressed worry about some African political leaders, who, instead of exercising good stewardship and upholding the common good, rather concentrate on their own selfish and partisan interests to enrich themselves at the expense of the ordinary Ghanaian, thereby resulting in poverty on the continent and the sub-region.

The Rev. Father observed that good governance implies having the electorate at heart and ensuring that the resources of the nation are managed equitably for the poor to have access to basic necessities such as food, housing, potable water and electricity.

He called on Ghanaians to protest against stomach politicians who make inflammatory remarks which threaten the prevailing peace.

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