Churches should call their political members to order

By Bertha Badu-Agyei, GNA
Abetifi (E/R), Aug. 23, GNA - Reverend Dr Kwabena Opuni-Frimpong, General Secretary of the Christian Council of Ghana (CCG), has urge churches to call their members who are politicians to order to diffuse the political tension.

This, according to him would help them to conduct their campaigns with decorum to avoid fomenting troubles in their electioneering.

He said it is time for the church to impress upon their members with large followers, the need to show decency and respect to each other in their campaign activities to ensure violent free elections, before and after December 7.

Addressing the opening of the 16th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG) at Abetifi, the Secretary-General of the CCG expressed concern with the political tension in Ghana and emphasised the role of churches in diffusing it.

He mentioned for instance Nana Akufo-Addo, Presidential Nominee of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr Dan Kwaku Botwe, a leading member of the NPP and Mr Johnson Asiedu-Nketiah, General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress, who are all members of the PCG.

'These leading members will in no doubt make a difference if they work to ensure a peaceful election,' he said.

Dr Opuni-Frimpong noted that the CCG had instituted a programme for all the member churches to engage their members who are politicians in pastoral care in ensuring a peaceful election.

He expressed the hope that the move would yield the objective of a peaceful and an acceptable election outcome.

The General Assembly, is the highest decision making body of the PCG and is held every year to deliberate on issues bordering on the growth of the church the climax for this year would be the election of a new Moderator to steer the affairs for the next five years.

The Right Reverend Professor Emmanuel Martey would end his five- year term of office in August.

Right Reverend Emmanuel Bossman, Bishop of the Koforidua Diocese urged the PCG to avoid any tension, which would tarnish the image of the church during the election of a new moderator to set the standard for the December election.

GNA