The Executive President of the Ghana Baptist Convention (GBC), Reverend Enoch Nii Narh Thompson, has urged Ghanaians to refrain from tribal and ethnocentric politics but vote for candidates based on issues and track records, as Ghana heads to the polls on December 7,
2024.
While Nii Narh Thompson described the upcoming elections as unique in the annals of Ghana’s democratic dispensation, he has implored Ghanaians to eschew the above
mentioned sentiments and concentrate on the records of the candidates, who are eyeing the seat of government.
“We should look at the records of the candidate and vote along those lines. Vote on issues rather than personalities, tribe and religious background,” he advised. Rev. Nii Narh made these assertion at the opening ceremony of the 61st Ghana Baptist Convention (GBC) which was held at the Baptist Women’s Retreat and Resource Centre, under the theme:
“The Holy Spirit: Power for Kingdom Expansion,” which was held at Ejura Sekyedumase in the Ashanti Region. As part of the event, GBC ordained 45 pastors into the ministry of God. The event was also attended by traditional leaders, other Christian denominations and hailed the GBC for the successes they have made over the years.
According to the GBC Prelate, God charges Christians to be peace ambassadors. “God does not want us to major on our ethnicities, but to seek the peace of the societies, where he has placed us, and so it is the human nature that is pushing these religious and ethnic sentiments.
“And so as I said, as much as it depends on us as God’s Church, we teach the brotherhood of humanity and when people understand that ethnicity is no more the basis of their actions and their conduct.” In view of the above, Rev. Thompson expressed optimism that the Church is believing the teachings of the Church and will spread beyond the Church into the general society, to realise that, as a society we are intermarried.
“We are intermarried so if we take Christianity aside, we are intermarried as a Ghanaian
community and that means when you attack somebody based on his ethnicity, you may find out within a short time that your cousin or niece, or somebody related to that person through another relationship.
We are hopeful and confident that God is working for us, we shall also be responsible citizens.” On his part, the Executive Secretary of the Christian Council Ghana (CCG), Rev
Dr. Cyril G.K Fayose stated that this year’s election is a ‘peculiar’ one, because there is a sitting vice president and a former president as flag bearers.
According to Dr. Fayose, there are some very physical issues that Ghana has to contend with and one of them is religion and how politics in Ghana is being financed.
He named ethnicity and youth unemployment and fake news and disinformation on social media as some of the things that the National Peace Council and Christian Council have to contend with.
As part of efforts to ensure peace before, during and after the elections, Fayose indicated
to ensure that righteousness and justice prevails, the Christian Council of Ghana has officially outdoored the eminent persons group and ethical leadership conferences.
