Supreme Court verdict will strengthen Ghana’s democracy – Presby Church
The Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG), on Tuesday expressed the hope that any constitutional and administrative reforms necessitated by the Supreme Court’s judgment would offer the impetus for strengthening Ghana’s democracy and governance system.
A communiqué issued by the General Assembly of the church held from August 16 to August 22 and read at a news conference by Right Reverend Professor Emmanuel Martey, Moderator of the General Assembly, of the PCG urged political parties to desist from spinning of facts, avoid the use of propaganda gimmicks and stop baseless accusations.
He called on the leadership of the political parties to institute political education units to help educate and inform their members objectively as well as the public on national issues.
Rt Rev Martey said Ghana deserve a well-informed and politically enlightened electorate to move the nation forward and lift it up to higher levels of growth and development.
He, therefore, urged all churches, other religious bodies and traditional authorities and the Department of Social Welfare to intensify their counselling programmes while appealing to government to help train more psychologists, psycho-analysts and counsellors to support the effort.
The General Assembly, the highest decision making body in the PCG, meet every year to reflect on the accomplishments of the past and look at the way forward.
The Assembly also discusses issues of concern that bothers on the development of the country.
This year the General Assembly reflected on the theme: “The Fruit of the Holy Spirit and the Believer.”
The Moderator noted that the Church is very concerned with the development of the country and finds it necessary to comment on political issues because politics is about human beings and the church is concerned about human lives.
Rt Rev Martey called for a fundamental restructuring of the economy through well thought-out policies and the implementation of pragmatic plans and programmes for a turnaround of the economy within the next few years.
He said corruption is so pervasive in the country with seemingly no solutions in sight, adding: “It is pathetic that we as a people and especially our political leaders are not treating corruption as the number one national enemy.”
He noted that professional journalism seemed to be compromised and diluted by some practitioners, and spoke against sensationalism, distortion, fabrication and exaggeration in news reporting.
Rt Rev Martey, therefore, called on the National Media Commission to address such concerns and help correct the imbalance and restore integrity to the profession.
Other issues that the General Assembly discussed include the Post-Election Challenges, Communal Peace and Security, Development Policies and Programmes, Environmental issues involving Foreign National and Illegal Mining, Waste Management, Unemployment issues and Industrial unrest.
The Moderator appealed to Ghanaians to allow the Holy Spirit to bear His fruit in their lives, adding, “It is His fruit in our lives that will guarantee the virtuous life that is needed for nation-building.”
Source: GNA