The last time I was in the neighborhood church was the Sunday after the NDC Congress. There was something I observed with the service that day. Aside the rejuvenating and inspiring scripture as well as the preaching, the priest kept mentioning His Excellency John Evans Atta Mills' name; at least I heard the name about thrice and in all of them the priest alluded to his re-election as presidential candidate for the NDC. I have no qualms whatsoever about mentioning the names of leaders (cum politicians) in church; what bothers me is the political tone attached to it. It is true that the Bible requests of us to pray for our leaders. In fact Paul through the Good Book, admonishes us in 1Timothy 2:1-2 thus, “ I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone – for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness”.
Pastors, priests, bishops and religious leaders belong to a category of people which the society, I believe, does not want to see actively engaged in politics. Another category is chiefs and traditional rulers. In the case of chiefs and traditional rulers, the 1992 Constitution expressly forbids them from participating in active partisan politics. Unlike chiefs, the law does not place any ban on religious leaders from engaging in active partisan politics. It seems to me that our lawmakers, and for that matter the drafters of our Constitution have left this issue to be regulated by society and morality. The era where the church played a very influential role in the political state is long gone. The relationship between the state and the church is now well defined. Thus in Britain today, the church plays little or no significant role in the election of the Prime Minister. The political influence of the Pope has gradually withered away in Europe. Some may argue otherwise citing Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa as an active political person. It is worth noting that Archbishop Desmond Tutu acted in the interest of all South Africans regardless of their political affiliation. Indeed, religious leaders have been seen as instruments of peace – take for example Archbishop Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson who is the chairman of the National Peace Council. The same cannot be said however of some Islamic states such as Iran where the Ayatollah still exerts a significant amount of political influence. In Ghana today, it has become commonplace for religious leaders to meddle in politics. One can readily remember the issue of TB Joshua on the presidency of John Evans Atta Mills. Also, in the days leading to the National Democratic Congress Party Delegates Congress, a prophet by name Segbene Xenodzi, prophesied the election of Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings as the presidential candidate of the NDC. He even put his life on the line should the prophecy fail. I find it amusing that the prophecy has failed but he still lives contrary to his own words. When he was interviewed after the congress, the prophet still maintained that Mrs. Rawlings won and that President Mills' followers manipulated the results of the election. It baffles me how anybody can posit and sustain such an argument!
There are obvious reasons for the moral restriction placed on religious leaders to refrain from active partisan politics. In the first place, the church is a sanctuary where people with battered hearts and minds, which in some cases are as a result of politics or the actions of politicians come to seek soothing comfort and redress. It is also a place where people come to seek spiritual encouragement and fortification. It will therefore make it difficult for a person to seek such comfort from a church which serves as a breeding ground for active politics. Secondly, active partisan politics is a sure recipe for division in the Church. As I have grown to understand and believe, the business of the church is salvation and not politics. There may be several denominations but there is one belief in God and his son Jesus Christ. It is unfathomable what the state of affairs in this country would be if a denomination is labeled say NDC and another NPP. Owing to its potential danger, it is imperative that pastors, priests and society as a whole avoid the permeation of politics into the church.
As mentioned earlier, chiefs and traditional rulers also belong to a category of persons who are banned from active partisan politics. Article 276(1) of the 1992 Constitution provides that “a chief shall not take part in active party politics; and any chief wishing to do so and seeking election to Parliament shall abdicate his stool or skin.” It however provides in clause 2 that notwithstanding clause (1) a chief may be appointed to any public office for which he is otherwise qualified – an example is Nana Kobina Nketiah who was appointed as a member of the committee set up to review the entitlements of former presidents and parliamentarians. The reason for this constitutional imposition is equally not far-fetched. From our constitutional history, the role of chiefs in local governance is so important that allowing them to partake in active politics shall indubitably weaken their authority. This is because the Chief as a symbol of traditional authority also serves as a symbol of unity for the people. Thus, C.E.K Kumado in an article wrote “The Commission [the Akuffo-Addo Commission set up to draw a draft proposal for the 1969 Constitution] rejected the belief held in some Ghanaian quarters that the chiefs had become cultural symbols only. Its view was that the wisdom, experience and influence of the chiefs and the whole chieftaincy apparatus can and should be harnessed for development, particularly in local government administration.” - Chieftaincy And The Law In Modern Ghana [1990-92] VOL. XVIII UGLJ 194. This ban on chiefs becomes even more important as a result of the significant role chiefs play in customary arbitration. Again, it is unfathomable what the state of affairs would be if Chiefs are seen to be in strong affiliation with a political party.
To sum it all up, there are very good and cogent reasons why the law, society and morality place restrictions on certain categories of persons from engaging in active partisan politics. I make a humble call to the Christian Council of Ghana, as well as the Catholic Bishops Conference, and all other religious regulatory bodies to see to the enforcement of this all important moral code with respect to pastors, priests, Imams and other religious leaders. With that being said, I believe it shall not be out of place to congratulate the NDC on the successful organization of a peaceful and incident-free congress.
WRITTEN BY:
NANA AKWASI AWUAH
[email protected]
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