Society pushes politicians to be corrupt – Anglican Theologian
The Reverend Professor Emeritus John S Pobee, an Anglican Theologian, has blamed society for contributing to the high prevalent rate of corruption in the country saying; “corruption is not only the preserve of politicians.
“The system seems to be generating corruption and that there would be no peace and solidarity when corruption is too high in the country”.
He posits that many people visit Ministers with their insatiable needs such as school and hospital fees and other needs which put pressure on these personalities.
Prof. Emeritus Pobee said this at the 50th J. B. Danquah Memorial lectures in Accra organised by the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences (GASS) on the topic: “Peace and Security: An African Christian Theological Contribution”.
He said the nation was blessed with natural resources, but the activities of society have made the country to be poor due to selfishness, greed and corruption.
He urged all to tolerate each other to avoid undue argument that would lead to violence, stressing that dialogue between the various parts and disciplines helped to ensure a holistic vision of peace and security.
He noted that peace and security had been the concern of processes of community building adding that in today’s language peace and security were defined as, ‘just participatory sustainable society’.
Prof Emeritus Pobee said one of the challenges affecting the country was religious pluralism which generated heated arguments leading to violence, stressing that managing the issue was a step in ensuring peace and security.
He explained that the struggle for freedom from colonial rule was to enable Africans to take charge of their destiny in building a just participatory sustainable society.
Prof Emeritus Pobee advised the youth to be careful, focused and not to allow any religious group to use them to cause mayhem since they were critical in the strategic development of the country.
He appealed to all to love each other stressing that “how do you manage peace when there is discrimination in all spheres”.
Prof. Samuel Sefa-Dedeh, Vice President of GAAS said the memorial lecture was instituted in 1968 in memory of a founding member of the Academy, Dr Joseph Boakye Danquah who died in prison in February 1965.
He noted that J. B. Danquah’s courage and relentless fight against tyranny and oppression remained a shining example to all lovers of freedom.
Source: GNA