Ghana Will Not Burn In 2016: Keynote Address By Joy2012 On Religion, Government And Nation Building

The Chairman, Nananom, Asofo, Imams, AYA, Zongo Youths, MFGJ GH and all protocol observed.

Let me firstly thank God for this program. Equally, the Christ Clergy Council (CCC) in conjunction with Peace Advocacy International(PAI), together with other Religious and Traditional leaders, Civil Society and Youth Groups for putting together this event which is best describe as the process of self-organization. Self-organization is a process where stakeholders come together to fight for a common threatening phenomenon.

The phenomenon of skewing almost non provoking issues to Christians-Muslims misunderstandings cannot be over-emphasized and leaves much to be desired in Ghana. This process gives optimism that indeed Ghana will not burn in 2016!

This Programme, planned at the last quarter of 2015 for Kumasi and subsequently other regional capital towns in Ghana, from hindsight of recentmisplaced and unprovoked upheavals in Tafo, can be concluded as visionary and pragmatic process for peaceful election year and beyond.

Ghana will not burn in 2016! What an audacious remarkfromA Religious Council but prudent in action orientated towards affirming the statement.I believe Ghanaians need to hear the message of change coming from seriousreligious leaders, respectful traditional rulers and the leadership of the business community in order to facilitate our socio-economic development and guarantee our authentic co-existence as Ghanaians.The fact is that a person is first born into citizenship of a nation before being nurtured into a particular religion and culture. We all have the option to choose our friends but we do not have the option to choose our families. Every person born into the citizenship of Ghana has, therefore, the right to decide to pursue a religion of choice without discrimination whatsoever.

RELIGION
I cherish as insightful how the late Prof. F.J.Streng ,who was a major authority on Religion, a respected pioneer in the field of the History of Religion at the world-renowned Southern Methodist University (SMU), Dallas, Texas defined religion. He posited that “religion is a process of ultimate transformation”.The substance and insight entailed in this comprehensive definition are a wake-up call for any religious leader and so called metamorphosed religious-political leader.

If the beliefs that knit together practitioners of any religion are not existentially relevant, intellectually stimulating and socially refreshing leading to the ultimate transformation of the nation all efforts will be a waste of time and human resources.

Thus the strengian definition makes the Abrahamic traditions (Christianity and Islam in particular) very relevant in Ghana’s development and overall nation building. Though thevalues, beliefs and moral prescriptions are very dear to the hearts of religious practitioners yet they may not be of significantimportance, if they are not translated into the processes of ultimate transformation in society.

Religiosity in the Ghanaian multi-ethnic society largely has a lot to do with the contradictions entailed in the dynamics of trust and deception, good and bad governance, mass indiscipline, mediocre justice and crude injustices.

Be that as it may, Ghanaian religiosity has not yet been translated into the processes of nationhood that we can all be proud of.

However, one cannot conclude that a nation’s development is based solely on particular religious tradition, as there are many examples of nations in which the majority of the citizens may or may not practice respective religions but are well- developed or advancing in their development.

Examples are such nations as USA, UK, China, India, Saudi Arabia etc, for which each have a particular dominant religion being practised by respective citizenry.

It is, therefore, imperative that there should be some fundamental principles that citizens of a nation adhere to which can steer them towards building strong nations. So how should Ghanaians see religion in relation to governance towards nation building?

GOVERNMENT
Government according to Webster is “the organization, or agency through which a political unit exercises its authority, controls and administers public policy and directs and controls the actions of its members or subjects”.

As agency, it implies governments are not islands on their own, but there are principals who nominate or approve the agency. A government is thus a trusted privilege mandated by the citizens or the electorate.It is in this vein that the Constitution of Ghana emphasizes the inalienable rights of every citizen and the fact that all powers of Government spring from the Sovereign Will of the people.

Therefore, ANYONE or INSTITUTION or GROUP/POLITICAL PARTY that attempts or acts in ultra variance against the sovereign will of Ghanaians for their choice of a President and a government is not only UNCONSTITUTIONAL but alsoSACRILEGIOUSand a first degree felony of a crime.

Abraham Lincoln, in his famous Gettysburg address, affirmed democracy as “the government of the people, by the people and for the people”. A government of a section of the people, by the section of the people and the for the section of the people is definitely not democracy as code named “winner takes all” in Ghana but Aristocracy i.e. a government by elites or superiors. The commoner has no chance and this is a threat to National Security.

Again, Government has three main democratic arms i.e. the Executive, the Legislature and the Judiciary. It is at the Legislature, that we have formal participatory democracy by the representation of both government and opposition.

A compromised and corrupted Legislature is reflected empirically in the respective characters by the Executive and the Judiciary arms of government.

A government headed by the Executive or the President can be affiliated to a political party but the government is responsible and accountable to the people called Ghanaians. Governments do not need political parties in order to govern democratically, i.e. with fundamental principles of Respect for human rights and respect for rule of law.

Our country in 2016 is not gargantuan butginormouslycorrupted and polarised than before, our value systems eroded and in fact the sense of patriotism is receiving life threatening support. The deeds of corruption is shamefully defended and acclaimed heroism,all because of partisan politics without sense of right and wrong.

The social stability in Ghana is largely due to the development and maintenance of Traditional Governance(Chieftaincy Institution) complementarily to the Elected Central Governance.The principle and character of chieftaincy place emphasis on the central authority of a chief but with procedures of mutual respect by the chief and the subjects. These procedures are time tested rooted in respect of authority, right to be heard fairly and respect for traditional laws.

A chief for instance should not lift a hand on subjects nor insult anyone (both indigenes and foreigners) and the chief is expected to be given the same respect reciprocally. Any act of insubordination is rather converted into stated fines which pave the way for anyone to be heard fairly by the chief and an act which also depicts the respect by the offender to the central authority of a chief.What a thoughtful democratic procedures rooted in rich traditions of chieftaincy.

Political parties in a caveat aligned themselves to ideologies of socialism or capitalism with neglects to traditions.We do not need President Barack Obama, to diplomatically drew our attention to this deception in 2009, when he addressed Ghana’s Parliament.“The essential truth of democracy is that each nation determines its own destiny…. and each nation gives life to democracy in its own way, and in line with its own traditions”.

These ideologies are however, tied in the knot of wisdom of divide and rule tactics, for which political actors in the leadership of the parties enjoy the largess at the expense of all. These ideologies are God given fundamental principles of development both human and animals.

The nucleus family is the unit of any nation. A child is nurtured, fended for, sheltered until 18years by any responsible parents, this is socialism ideology. After 18 years, the responsibility to take decision and subsequent expectation for the young adult to contribute towards society is capitalism ideology. This timeless principle is also noted in animals when they wean their young ones after certain period after birth.

Ideology of governments for countries cannot prudently be different from parents ofthe family as unit of any nation. The timeless ideology of parents for our individual development is “APPROPRIATISM”. Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, the first President of Ghana ideology is ultimately APPROPRIATISM.

I opined in May 2012 “ How can we have a national democratic discourse in setting out our developmental agenda for the next two decades? Who should even develop this? Should it be a particular political party and what will be the outcome in a contextual implementation when these political parties are locked up in ideological patch of socialism/ capitalism, left-right-centre-wing bookish, theory-based education which does not translate into practical reality of our governance system?”

My mind finds it difficult to accept the fact that we cannot take majority decisions for our country except we align ourselves into political parties ideologies, even in parliament. This is centuriesindelible legacy of divide and rule tactics, that must be rejected by Ghana, Africa countries and the new world order that believe in the principle of true liberty and respect for human rights. The propensity of dynamics of human behaviors are forcing these ideologies to move to the CENTRE!

Our vision for national development is blurred and our sense of judgement highly distorted more than a drunkard. We can no longer control our emotions along partisanship. Not even religion is able to control our emotions and what is left is a tiny spot light of hope ofMulti-Partisan Coalition or IndependentNon-Partisan Presidential Government glowing in the brood darkness of political partisan depravity.

NATION BUILDING
Most African countries are PAPER NATION according to Nana Lawyer Dr. Moses Oppong, President of Distinguished Scholars of Africa, in a paper titled, Paper-Nations &The Renaissance of Africa.According to Nana Oppong, not one sub-Sahara Africa country exists as true nation because they lack history, mystery and sacred order of true brotherhood to form a true nation.

Nation-building, however, is also not synonymous with creating democracy, even though both take time. Rather authority relations are transformed through mutations of political institutions as well as of societal interests, through culture and social structures whose nature is driven by ideas and ‘half-articulated longing’ of individuals.

Nation-building also requires governments with policies designed to alleviate poverty, a greater respect for the law and a judiciary that truly dispenses justice and truth and that protects the highly vulnerable in society. Nation-buildingrequires a government that can implement socio-economic policies to close the poverty gap and to insure the well-being of future generations and honestly take steps to reform the ethnic and religious polarization of its citizenry.

The significance of political parties as agents for nation building need to be transformed through political mutation to sacredness orwellbeing.

For Ghana,We must also ensure that genuine pragmatic and prudent measures are set up to correct past political blunders.The rift that divided the founding fathers of Ghana into enemies causing socio-political disorganisation over the past fifty (59) years needs divine wisdom for pragmatic reconciliation.

THE TRIPOD OF RELIGION, GOVERNMENT AND NATION BUILDING

Having attempted to conceptualise the Tripod of Religion, Governance and Nation-Building, one needs toconsider the issue of pragmatic interconnectedness. We need to form a pictorial view of a triangular object, with Nation-Building at the apex and the baseheld together by Religion and Governance.Thus religion and governance form the formidable foundation that can sustain and hold the super structure of nation-building together against the shocks and aggressions of foreign cultures and the tidal waves against the exploration in search for the desired destiny of the nation.

It is of great concern that intolerance and disrespect coupled with disturbances within either the religious or governance pillars, respectively or worse off if such disturbances are concurrently happening in both pillars of nation-building, can wrought an incalculable tendency to crumple down the whole nation with high consequences of human lives and properties.

The Mahama-led government pillar has been selfrock-shaken to crumbles in all facets of our national life but it's trying to put the pieces together hopefully in 2016. EVERY GHANAIAN, POLITICAL, PARTIES, ALL FAITH GROUPS AND CIVIL SOCIETY GROUPS MUST DO ALL WE CAN NOT TO CRUSH THE RELIGIOUS PILLAR IN 2016 FOR POLITICAL EXPEDIENCIES.

Nation-building requires faithful traditions that can translate the love and justice of God/Allah/Onyankronponginto the existential human situation.Nation-building requires religions with referent stance on moral principles with ultimate process of raising the red flag with the view to transforming the consciousness of government’s initiatives on policies that discriminate against others with high levels of crude injustice.

It is improper for government to assume moral authority or pretend to have all the answers to all national challenges. Corruption must be dealt with and governments should eschew the practice of using falsehood to gain power so as to create a just society.

NO PRETENSE, NO MANIPULATION BUT PROFESSIONALISM

Ghana will indeed not burn with such attitudinal self-organization such as stakeholders of this event have exemplified. It will require no pretense from the government, state institutions, opposition political entities, faith communities, CSO in taking a firm stance in addressing and dealing security threats in clear eyed-terms.

NEST, NPC AND EC ENGAGE ON CREDIBLE BVR NO PRETENSE

I call on the National Election Security TaskforceAndTechnical Committee (NEST) not to act in pretense of peaceful election to addresssecurity flash-points that will undermine and short change the Sovereign Will of Ghanaians. No security force has overcome the human Will/spirit. The best security service is to prevent and not fire fighting. Prevention is a conscious and deliberate action.

One of the pervasive flash points and pretenseof ignorance by the EC and the Political Parties is the creation of Credible Biometric Voter Register (BVR). The EC’s independence is not an island onto itself.

What ignorance and pretense by the EC on how to clean BVR. What does the EC mean by BVR Exhibition after the limited registration? The EC forum Eminent Panelists’s report has stated BVR validation and Nigeria has demonstrated BVR validation by simply Placing of Voters’ fingers on the AFIS machine to verify respective Biodata in order to validate a voter for 2016 election.

The EC and especially its Chairperson Mrs Charlotte Osei must guide her soul and spirit to resist decisions that will culminates in acts of biblical Jezebel character. I pray for her. For election 2016 in Ghana as I declared in 2014 is indeed Election of Armageddon.

The NEST without pretense must engage the EC to ensure credible but economic BVR as against NEW BVR. The National Peace Council must equally collaborate with NEST for this common purpose. This will clear perceived manipulation and doubts of credible neutrality by these institutions.

NO PRETENSE WITH RESPECT FOR THE LAW GOVERNMENT

The government and not the President alonein pretense cannot mock the law and uphold simultaneously. When even the courts orders are not enforced is a mockery of Justice, examples are the orders on Woyome case and Fulanis. From hindsight whenever justice is denied the whole national security is threatened, to the extent that the lives of Fulanis, indigenes, and even the economic value of the cattle will be lost.

NO PRETENSE WITH JUSTICE ON TAFO VIOLENT –ASHANTI RESEC

The stakeholders of the unfortunate upheaval at Tafo must not deny the application of Justice. Though Justice can be tempered with mercy but the clarity of pursuing Justice and the lessons must not be denied the country, especially, the youth.

The American reformer and statesman, Frederick Douglas cautionary statement cannot be ignored at this dispensation “ where Justice is denied, where poverty is enforced, where ignorance prevails, and where any one class is made to feel that society is an organized conspiracy to oppress, rob and degrade them, neither persons nor property will be safe”.

Let me pay homage to the CCC with Apostle Chief Isaac who planned this Programmewith Nananomand chosen Kumasi as the maiden event.The collaboration of Ashanti Youth Association, the Zongo Youth and Machomen for Good Justice Ghana (MFGJ) is a leadership trail blazer and a laudable resolved by all youth groups in Ghana to emulate not to allow themselves to be manipulated by political entities to ensure peace. For Ghana will not burn in 2016 by political EXPEDIENCIES.

Let's deal with our fears legally and professionally and not leave our fate to the pretense of prayers and expected miracles for God has given us the power to dominate as stated in the holy bible.

To conclude, one of the favourite quotations that the Muslim youth leader, Mallam Abdul Fattah of Accra often quotes is"For surely Allah will never change the grace which He hath bestowed on a people until they change what is in their (own) souls; and verily Allaah is He Who heareth and knoweth(all things)."(Qur'aan: Al-Anfaal, 8:53).For Allaahta'aalaa will never change His blessings and the fortunes of a people unless the people take the initiative to change themselves.

Let us go back to the real Ghanaian and not change our souls for evil because of depraved partisan politics emanating out of insatiable greed.

Finally, I am most grateful to the Christ Clergy Council and Peace Advocacy Internationalespecially Apostle Chief Isaac who never relented for me to share perspective asa Political Leaderon the topic Religion, Government and Nation building for the maiden Keynote address for this year 2016.

Thank You.
Jacob Osei Yeboah
(JOY2012, IndependentPresident Candidate 2012)
Not even religion is able to control our emotions and what is left is a tiny spot light of hope of Multi-Partisan Coalition or Independent Non-Partisan Presidential Government glowing in the brood darkness of political partisan depravity.