SPEAK OUT ON NATIONAL ISSUES

Page 7: Daily Graphic, May 8, 2012. THE Archbishop Emeritus of Kumasi, the Most Rev Peter Akwasi Sarpong, might have stirred up a real hornets’ nest when he called on the clergy not to shy away from commenting on issues affecting the state. In time past, communiques issued by the Ghana Catholic Bishops Conference (GCBC) and the synods of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana and the Methodist Church of Ghana were often looked forward to by all. In critical times in the past, the pastoral letters of the Catholic Church touched on the conduct of national affairs, such that even non-Catholics sought after them because the epistles offered hope for the future. As recently as during the Kufuor era, the GCBC took a firm position concerning the removal of Religious and Moral Education from the curriculum of basic and second-cycle institutions until it was reinstated. The conference also took a firm position on the issue of voter verification during the just ended biometric voters registration exercise. Although the GCBC continues to address issues of national importance, most of the clergy shy away from commenting on national issues for fear of being verbally attacked or tagged as belonging to one political party or another. Indeed, think-tanks have also recently received their share of labelling and verbal vituperations. But this is where we disagree with those members of the clergy and respected citizens who have decided not to comment on or discuss issues affecting the state. And, as the Most Rev Sarpong said, refusing to comment on national issues for fear of being condemned or criticised by sections of society could only be detrimental to the state. Ghana has had a tortuous journey in its quest for democracy and we cannot afford to let it slip off since, as he said, “... without criticism, freedom yields to totalitarianism, justice gives way to exploitation, charity recedes into ruthlessness, peace dissolves into rivalry and hostility”. We need not also forget the popular Akan saying that he who beats the path will never know that the path is not straight. That is why the Daily Graphic thinks that if our beloved country is to reach its glorious destination, the collective effort of all of us is needed in thought, word or deed. It is, therefore, incumbent on every individual or organisation to contribute its quota to the holistic development of the country. We believe the clergy will be doing this country, their calling and themselves a great disservice if they remain mute on vital national issues. After all, even in critical times under military regimes, our clergy found their voices to talk about issues affecting the state. The Church of God exists to serve and protect its members and not please any political party or persons. The church does not have to wait for conflict, violence or disease to break out before acting. It must seek to prevent them now. For those who have made it a habit of castigating or pouring invectives on our clergy and respected citizens, they must bear in mind that insults do not provide food, peace, health or even a safe haven in times of need. They also need not forget about the critical role played by members of the clergy when the country almost went to the brink after the 2008 general election. Are such critics suggesting that the value of the clergy can only be found in times of crisis? We must appreciate the fact that the key drivers of democracy include freedom of political expression, freedom of speech and freedom of the press, so that citizens are adequately informed and be able to vote according to their own interests.