The Ashanti Regional Women’s Wing and the NASARA Wing of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) have hit back at Prophet Isaac Owusu Bempah over what they describe as inflammatory comments against some leading members of the party.
The two regional structures have separately condemned recent pronouncements attributed to the founder and leader of Glorious Word Power Ministries International, accusing him of making statements capable of deepening religious and tribal divisions.
The Ashanti Regional NASARA Wing, in particular, has taken strong exception to an alleged claim that some senior NPP members were planning to use members of the wing to attack Prophet Owusu Bempah’s church.
The Regional NASARA Coordinator, Razak Abubakar, dismissed the allegation as false and said it had the potential to damage the image and credibility of the wing.
According to him, NASARA stood for “unity in diversity” and was established to mobilise settler and migrant communities into the political mainstream, irrespective of their ethnic or religious backgrounds.
He said portraying NASARA as a group that could be mobilised to attack a place of worship was not only offensive but also a distortion of the wing’s mandate.
Mr Abubakar accused the Prophet of making pronouncements that could create divisions along religious and tribal lines and questioned their appropriateness coming from a religious leader.
He urged religious leaders to use their platforms to promote peace, tolerance and national cohesion rather than make statements that could inflame passions.
The NASARA Wing also clarified that it was not a Muslim wing of the NPP, stressing that it represented settler communities comprising people of different religious backgrounds, including Christians.
Demand retraction
The Ashanti Regional NASARA leadership has consequently demanded that Prophet Owusu Bempah retract the alleged allegation and render an unqualified apology to the wing and the NPP.
It warned that failure to do so could compel it to pursue “all legitimate options” available to protect the reputation and integrity of NASARA.
The leadership also appealed to major Christian organisations, including the Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council, the Christian Council of Ghana and the Catholic Bishops’ Conference, to speak out against what it described as a dangerous pattern of conduct.
Women’s Wing defends Bawumia, Ayew Afriye
Meanwhile, the Ashanti Regional Women’s Wing has mounted a defence of the NPP’s 2024 presidential candidate, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, and the Member of Parliament for Effiduase-Asokore, Dr Nana Ayew Afriye.
The Regional Women’s Organizer, Beatrice Owusu, cautioned Prophet Owusu Bempah against what the wing described as continued attacks on the character and integrity of the two politicians.
The Women’s Wing said it would not remain silent in the face of what it considered attempts to tarnish the reputation of Dr Ayew Afriye, whom it described as a peaceful, disciplined and non-violent politician.
It also expressed confidence in Dr Ayew Afriye and Dr Bawumia, describing both as personalities of integrity and good character who had distinguished themselves through public service.
‘Focus on your calling’
The wing urged Prophet Owusu Bempah to concentrate on his religious calling and desist from what it termed an unwarranted campaign against NPP personalities.
It said Ghana was confronted with several challenges that required the attention, prayers and constructive interventions of religious leaders rather than attacks on individuals engaged in public service.
The separate statements by the NASARA and Women’s wings underline growing tensions between the NPP’s Ashanti Regional structures and the Prophet over comments concerning the party and some of its leading figures.
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