Political parties challenged to work for national harmony

The Reverend Emmanuel Titi-Lartey, Associate Pastor of Harvest Chapel International (HCI), on Sunday urged the various political parties contesting Election 2008, to work for national harmony as they sought the mandate of Ghanaians to rule for the next four years.

He cautioned that in a multi-ethnic society with all its opportunities and dangers, the necessity for peace was not an option but a must for all to pursue, irrespective of ones political affiliation.

Rev Titi-Lartey, therefore, challenged Christians to lead the campaign for a peaceful election with vigour and persuasion to ensure that all candidates conformed to the tenets of democratic principles and administration of justice for all.

The HCI Associate Pastor, told the Ghana News Agency in an interview after a special church service in Accra, to usher in activities for a week's prayer festival for the nation, which the Church considers as “Patriotic Responsibility”.

He said activities would include prayers for Election 2008 with particular focus on the conduct of democratic institutions as the nation wrapped up for the election on December 7th and prayer for the leadership of the nation's executive, legislature and judiciary, slated for November 24.

Rev. Titi-Lartey said prayer that the right leaders; President and 230 parliamentarians would be chosen not based on partisanship persuasion but by the desire of the Lord would be held on November 25, whiles prayer for all political parties, presidential and parliamentary candidates, the Electoral Commission and other democratic institutions to work in harmony would come off on November 26.

He said November 27 and 28 would be devoted for protective covering of the Lord over the nation, security of the country and intensification of prayer for peaceful conduct of the electoral process before, during and after the elections.

The Christian faithful would meet daily at the HCI premises at North Tesano from 18:30 hours to 20:00 hours each night for cooperate prayer sessions.

Rev Titi-Lartey enjoined all to participate in the prayer festival to ensure that Ghana came out of Election 2008 united, to set the standard for other countries in the sub-region.

Meanwhile the Church had declared Saturday December 6, as a day for Special Pre-election Church Service, to thank God for the conduct of the electioneering campaign and set the pace for a peaceful election.

“There would be no church service on Sunday December 7, the Election Day, as the Special Pre-Election Church Service, which starts at 17:00 hours is to ensure that every member participates fully in the election which is a civic and democratic responsibility,” Rev. Kwesi Dickson, Senior Pastor of the Church said.