“We want a leader who has a vision to bring hope to the hopeless. We also want a leader who will be a Servant Leader, to serve the people and not to lord over them. We also want a leader who has integrity. These were the characteristics of our Lord Jesus Christ. So, as a predominant Christian nation, it is our responsibility to elect a Christian leader, who is also a Christlike leader…”These are the words of Alan Kyerematen, when he attended the Church of Pentecost Easter Convention at Dr. Thomas Wyatt Assembly on Easter Day March 31, 2024. Then all hell broke loose with attacks on his personality!
So, what was on the menu?
From Rev. Anthony Cudjoe, the head pastor of the International Central Gospel Church, Calvary Temple, Spintex, he said a Muslim can also lead this country, because God can use anyone at all without considering their religion or wishes of men.
From the National General Secretary of People’s National Convention (PNC), Janet Nabla, every individual in Ghana identifies foremost as a Ghanaian first before any religious association and stressed that Alan, lacks the necessary maturity to assume the role of flagbearer at this juncture, noting that maturity transcends mere age.
Next was the NDC. On his part, the Deputy General Secretary of the NDC, Mustapha Gbande said the statement could undermine and destroy the peace being enjoyed in the country.Referring to Alan and Bawumia, he said, “they are short of ideas and now they are playing a game that at the end of the day will destroy the peace of our country.”
Then comes the last but certainly not the least, the NPP.
The Director of Communications for the NPP, Richard Ahiagbah said such comments does not augur well for national cohesion. And argued that such a statement is divisive and contrary to religious inclusivity in Ghanaian politics. “Such dangerous rhetoric must not be tolerated, and we must denounce it whenever it rears its ugly head. Let us remember that we are one people. We do not have a Christian Ghana or a Muslim Ghana, just one united Ghana.”
And NPP’s Hon. Frank Annor Dompreh, MP for Nsawam, described the comments as backward and ugly.
National Organizer of the NPP, Henry Nana Boakye put in these words, claiming that Alan’s comments “are not the best. It does not unite us; it is not good. God can make a Muslim the President of this country and this country could be better. We need to be religiously tolerant.”
Then comes in another man of God who triples as the deputy minister of Education, and the MP for Assin South, in the person of Rev. John Ntim Fordjour. He considered what Alan said as religious stereotyping which is dangerous and unhelpful. This man of God turned politician, cited instances in Sacred Scriptures, where God used non-Jewish kings to help Israelites, one as in the case of King Cyrus of Persia, in the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalemand in the case of King Hiram of Tyre, the building of a palace. Therefore, “God can use anyone to bring prosperity to His people.”
Readers, I will plead your indulgence to dwell on the matters of the two men of God, Rev. Anthony Cudjoe and Hon. Rev. John Ntim Fordjour in the second part of this publication. Thank you.
I always say that we live in a country where people choose to attack and condemn reactions but leave the actions alone. When one is talking about divisiveness this is it.
Janet Nabla of the PNC should come and explain why her party is not a national but regional based party.
The PNC has never elected a Southerner to lead the party during General Elections. All the party executives are Northerners, and she is here talking about maturity in politics. Is it that those in the South are not good enough for her party?
Yes, every Ghanaian should identify first and foremost as Ghanaian, but our ethnicity and association can determine how we think and where we go to. All eleven players on the field, identify to their team, but they play different roles during the game. This is maturity and unity in diversity.
I am most surprised that the NDC decided to talk on this issue. What statement is undermining the peace enjoyed in this country? Mustapha Gbande, must know that when we talk of divisiveness and undermining the peace, it is the NDC who wearsthat crown. Where was he, when Rawlings convinced Voltarians not to vote for the NPP because it is an Asante party? Where was he when people in the Volta region were told to and they beat out, Prof. Adu Boahen and the NPP anytime they came to town? Maybe, he might not have been born yet.
However, he should have been around when NDC’s Fiifi Kwetey said no Muslim can be president of Ghana; and when Sam Pee Yalley said, President Mills should not relocate to Jubilee House because it was near to Nima, a Muslim dominated suburb.
Could Mustapha Gbande tell Ghanaians that what Alan said at the Pentecost Easter Convention, is more serious than the above? And why should the NDC have quarrels here, since they have a Christian flag bearer.
In fact, the NDC should not pretend it has Muslims and Northerners at heart. Today, the NDC is wishing that when Mahama a Northerner becomes president, he should quickly die so that his Fanti vice president, Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, would become president. The NDC has not won the elections yet, but they have evil plans against Northerners.
By the way, has the NDC ever elected a Muslim as flag bearer? When the opportunity came in the December 2006 NDC Presidential Primary, with three Christians and a Muslim in the race, the NDC rejected the Muslim, Alhaji Mahama Iddrisu who secured the position with only 8.7% of valid votes cast.
And recently, look at how the hardworking NDC Muslims in Parliament, notably Haruna Iddrisu and Mubarak Muntaka were stripped off their posts.
When people are talking about Muslims, NDC should just keep quiet.
The NPP has the moral right to complain, since asking all Christians to cast their votes for a Christian would mean Bawumia will never have any chance in winning even second place in the elections. So, it is very understandable, for the NPP to react.
However, where was Richard Ahiagbah, when the NPP National Nasara coordinator, Alhaji Aziz Haruna Futah, publicly declared that it is now time for a Muslim president for Ghana, in the person of Dr. Bawumia?
Where was he when dangerous rhetoric statements were made based on religion and ethnicity by Bugri Naabu who called on Northerners to vote for Bawumia and if Ashantis do not vote for him, it means Ashantis do not like Northerners?
Where was Ahiagbah, when Bawumia himself met Muslim leaders and asked them to vote for him because he is one of them?
Where was he when Karbo, said this time round the Northerners would not work for the Southerners to lead the nation, because it is their turn?
Where was he when a Muslim cleric, Shiekh Tawfig, a Sunni in Kumasi, declared a jihad if Bawumia is not elected president? And this cleric, had also said Jesus Christ is a Muslim. With the meaning of Muslim as one who submits, one who is a believer or follower of Islam, what is this man referring to when Jesus came long before Islam? Can Richard Ahiagbah answer this?
By the way, is Richard Ahiagbah not aware that Ghana is a Christian country, even if not declared so by the Constitution? For further clarifications, he should google-search Ghanaweb of February 27, 2024, where the president himself said that, “despite secular constitution, Ghana is a Christian nation, practically.”
To Hon. Annor Dompreh, why should he say someone else’s statements are backward and ugly when others had made worse ones in past, but he was always scared to comment on? If he so much hates Alan, he should not make backward and ugly statements about him.
And what is Nana Boakye, all about? Is he saying that this country will be better with a Muslim leader? Does he mean that this country under the Christian, Nana Addo is in a worse state and no Christian can be good leader?
When delicate issues like this come out, why are the elders in NPP silent, and allowing young ones likeNana B, Annor-Dompreh and Ahiagbah, who were 11 years,15years and 26 years respectively in 1992 when politics re-started, to talk, as if they are founding members of the NPP.
The issue is like this,Bawumia goes to Muslims and ask them to vote for him and he goes to Christian churches and ask Christians to vote for him; Alan also goes to Muslims and ask for their votes but, when he goes to Christian churches and ask for Christians votes, it becomes a big issue.
We are in a democracy where the majority decides for the nation. So, during electioneering campaign, if an aspirant identifies with any majority and he goes to them, to obviously sell himself. The Constitution is not against this. The majority could be ethnic, religious or even sex. Female political aspirants always go out there and remind women that they are in the majority so they should vote for women. This is never considered an issue.
Alan is a Christian and he went to meet Christians and reminded them that it is their responsibility to vote for a Christian who is Christlike, with the emphasis on Christlike.
To the NPP Christians who are condemning Alan, how will they sell Bawumia to Christian communities and what will they say to Muslims about the need to vote for Bawumia? Will they say to the Christians, “there are no longer any good Christians around, so vote for the Muslim,” and to the Muslims“this is your opportunity to vote for a Muslim president?”
Hon. Daniel Dugan
