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24.02.2010 Politics

Anglican Bishop condemns Nana Addo, Alan `rift`

By Issah Alhassan, Kumasi - Ghanaian Chronicle
Anglican Bishop condemns Nana Addo, Alan rift
24.02.2010 LISTEN

THE PERCEIVED animosity between supporters of the former Presidential Candidate of the opposition New Patriotic Party, Nana Addo Dankwah Akufo-Addo and his closest rival, Mr. Kwadwo Alan Kyerematen, appears not to be a bother to only party functionaries, but also the clergy.

The Anglican Bishop of Kumasi, Most Rev. Daniel Yinkah Sarfo has expressed concern about the fissure between supporters of the two prominent personalities and its likely repercussion on the nation's political and democratic dispensation during a thanksgiving service organized at the St. Paul's Anglican Church in Kumasi for the newly elected Regional Executives of the party.

The service, which was mainly to thank God Almighty for seeing the party through its regional congress held few weeks ago, was also to commit the new executives, led by the chairman, Mr. Frederick Fredua Anto into the hands of God as they lead the party for the next four years.

The outspoken Anglican clergy says he is personally worried about the seeming political intolerance and fanaticism creeping into the opposition party and cautioned that if nothing was done to immediately quell the situation, it would have negative effect on both the NPP and the country.

“What worries me more is that; Nana Addo and Alan and the regional chairman, Mr. F. F. Anto are all Anglicans, so why should you fight each other, you are only engaging in self destruction and this will not augur well for your supporters and the party, “ he stressed.

Preaching the sermon at a thanksgiving service organized by the newly elected Ashanti Regional chairman of the NPP, Most Rev. Sarfo noted that he finds it extremely difficult to comprehend the level of hostilities that often characterize campaign for positions within the party, even though all the candidates aspire to work in the supreme interest of the party.

He cautioned that the fortunes of the party will continue to dwindle, if it does not work towards unity and smooth co-operation.

The man of God noted further “you are not doing your supporters any good when you decide to use the media to settle scores and wash your dirty linen in public; you must cultivate the habit of keeping your internal matters secret rather than constantly coming public.”

Quoting the Bible to buttress his argument, the Anglican Bishop made reference to St. Paul's letter in Ephesians chapter 4:3-6 which reads -”Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit-just as you were called to one hope when you were called-one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”

According to him, Ghana belongs to each and every one of us and that there was the need for all political parties to remain united and work towards achieving progress for the citizens of this country.

The Anglican Bishop also condemned the winner takes all attitudes which is often adopted by political parties and governments of the day and stressed further that no political party can claim to have the capacity to solve the myriad of problems confronting the country.

He noted that there was the need for politicians to adopt consensus building and refrain from politicizing certain pertinent issues which bother on the development of the good people of this country.

Admonishing the executives of the party to work in unity, Bishop Yinkah Sarfo emphasized that it was only through unity and togetherness that the newly elected executives can work to achieve their avowed objectives.

He said in the case of internal party politics, there should neither be a vanquished nor a victor, stressing that both the loser and the winner must work in the supreme interest of the party.

The newly elected Regional Chairman, who led the team of party executives, said the party was very grateful to God that in spite of all the tensions and anxieties the party was able to conduct peaceful and violence free congress.

Mr. Anto pledged to work in collaboration with all groups within the party to ensure victory for the party in 2012. He further appealed to the Church to pray fervently for the party, as it prepares to host the national congress on Saturday to elect its national officers.

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