Bawumia urges FBOs to champion Ghana’s development

goldcoastnewsline@gmail.com

June 20, 2024
0 Comments

The Vice-President and NPP Flagbearer, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has called on faith-based organizations to collaborate with the government to achieve Ghana’s development goals.

Speaking at the 2nd Biennial Joint Conference of the East, West and Mid Ghana Conference of the AME Zion Church, Dr. Bawumia stressed the need for a collective national vision and the active participation of all stakeholders, particularly religious groups.

Dr. Bawumia emphasised the importance of strategic planning and visionary leadership in addressing the nation’s challenges.

Despite recent economic difficulties, he urged Ghanaians to maintain their faith and confidence in the country’s potential for a prosperous future.

“We must determine where we want to be in the future and carefully plan how to get there. It requires visionary leadership to chart the path for the future and committed and dedicated people who strive to achieve their ideals and aspirations for the future,” Dr. Bawumia stated.

He called on Christians to complement their spiritual activities with practical efforts that contribute to national development. This includes committing to personal cleanliness, environmental respect, and holding leadership accountable.

“Would it be too much to ask that Christians complement their prayer vigils and revivals with honest diligent work? Is it too much to ask that each individual commits to personal cleanliness and respect for the environment?” Dr. Bawumia asked.

The Vice-President commended the AME Zion Church for its significant contributions in areas such as healthcare, education and social justice advocacy. He highlighted the church’s active involvement in the Christian Council of Ghana’s initiatives to address national issues.

Dr. Bawumia further challenged Ghanaians to work together with a unified purpose and open dialogue to achieve accelerated national development.

“I have no doubt that the Almighty God has brought each of us to a time such as this for a reason. He has divinely equipped us to rise up to the occasion and build our beloved nation Ghana,” he indicated.

Rt. Rev. Dr. Hilliard K. Dela Dogbe, Presiding Bishop of the African A.M.E Zion Church – Western West Africa Episcopal District, also urged Ghanaians to reject divisive politics.

He emphasised the importance of peaceful political processes and the selection of leaders based on ideas and solutions to national challenges.

“Politics should not divide us; it should rather showcase our diversity. As the parties campaign, let’s listen for ideas, deliberate on them, and choose the ones that best address our challenges. Peace is what we all desire, not conflict,” Bishop Dogbe stated.

goldcoastnewsline@gmail.com

Politics

goldcoastnewsline@gmail.com
October 13, 2024
0 Comments
2 minutes Read

COKA urges SDA members to participate in Dec polls

A former Afigya Kwabre South Constituency Chairman of the NPP, Odeneho Kwaku Appiah, popularly known as COKA, has called on the leadership of the Seventh Day Adventist Church (SDA) to encourage its members to participate in the upcoming December 7 elections, which coincidentally falls on a Sabbath this year.

In a statement, COKA expressed concerns that this scheduling could potentially disenfranchise a significant segment of the electorate.

COKA highlighted the SDA community’s considerable size, stating that the church has a membership of over 800,000, with a youth demographic representing about 70% of this figure. He emphasized the importance of these numbers in shaping the electoral outcome, noting that in past elections, political parties had won with margins as narrow as 50,000 votes.

He indicated that “while the Sabbath holds significant spiritual importance for Adventists, it is essential to remember that the Sabbath was made to meet the needs of people, not the other way around”. He urged church leaders to reconsider their stance, and actively promote voting among their congregants. “The SDA numbers can make a change in the 2024 elections. We must not leave them out of this crucial democratic process,” he insisted.

COKA commended the church leadership for taking proactive steps by petitioning Parliament and the Electoral Commission regarding the matter. “I think the leadership of the church has done well to engage with these bodies to lobby for a future change in the law,” he noted. He expressed hope that the legal framework could be revised to allow elections to be held on the first Tuesday of November, thereby accommodating all religious groups.

The push for legislative change is gaining traction, with various stakeholders, including political parties, acknowledging the need for a voting schedule that respects the diverse beliefs within Ghanaian society. “All parties agree that measures must be put in place to ensure that in the 2028 elections, the law is adjusted to favor all religious groups,” COKA remarked.

He added that by mobilizing SDA members to vote, the church could significantly influence the outcome of the elections, reinforcing the importance of civic engagement within faith communities.

He called on all stakeholders to prioritize the participation of every citizen, regardless of their religious observances.

Politics

goldcoastnewsline@gmail.com
October 13, 2024
0 Comments
2 minutes Read

NDC has lost touch on political grounds – Atta Akyea

Samuel Atta Akyea, the Member of Parliament for Abuakwa South, has observed that the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) is losing its political footing, hence the shift away from traditional political rallies towards what he termed “spiritual rallies.”

Speaking to a lively gathering during the NPP running mate’s tour in the Eastern Region, Mr Atta Akyea dismissed recent prophecies from certain religious leaders regarding the upcoming elections as mere human predictions rather than divine declarations.

He stated: “It is disheartening to see the NDC lean on spiritual interventions rather than engaging with the electorate on substantive issues.”

He criticized the party for its reliance on prophecies, and urged Ghanaians to focus on the pressing issues that affected their daily lives, such as the economy, education, and infrastructure development. “Elections are determined by the will of the people through the ballot box, not by spiritual declarations,” he emphasized.

The MP referenced a particular prophecy that purportedly predicted victory for the NDC, noting that the same prophet had previously insulted former President John Mahama. “It is shameful that Mahama cannot see through these lies,” he remarked, urging voters to remain discerning, and not to place undue faith in such predictions.

Mr Atta Akyea called for political engagement rooted in the realities of governance, stating, “We must outline concrete plans for Ghana’s future rather than rely on spiritual assurances. The democratic process remains the legitimate way to choose our nation’s leadership.”

He encouraged Ghanaians to remain optimistic about the prospects of strong governance under the leadership of Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and Dr. Mathew Opoku Prempeh. He reiterated his belief that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) was the best choice for the country, particularly highlighting the need to preserve the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) policy, which he claims the NDC threatens to undermine.

“We must work hard to ensure victory in the 2024 elections,” he urged party supporters, stressing that Mahama’s political comeback is improbable. “He is on a spiritual holiday and cannot return to the presidency,” he quipped, urging continued support for his predecessor and current party leadership.

He called for unity and focus within the NPP ranks.