Do “not just call for peace, back such calls with actions,” Cleric in Ghana to Politicians

In the report, Fr. Sebastian further acknowledges that calls for peace are challenged by realities of unemployment and poor living conditions in the West African nation.

“It is not enough to preach and tell people to maintain peace,” he says and probes, “If people are frustrated, if they are hungry, they have no jobs and so on, what do you expect?” 

Despite the challenges, Fr. Sebastian goes on to say, members of the Clergy will “continue to appeal to the youth to be patient and abide by the laws of the country.”

He counsels the youth to restrain from the consumption of alcohol saying, “Most of them think that the best way to be happy is to go into alcohol consumption, smoking and other habits that are not good for them and for society.”

Fr. Sebastian also bemoans indecency among political leaders saying, “Most of them have no heart for the nation.”

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“I have to admit that politics in Ghana now is a big shame. There is no decency among most politicians. There is no truth, and everything is geared towards prosperity and greed,” the Priest serving in Ghana’s Diocese of Navrongo-Bolgatanga laments. 

Political leaders are destroying the country, Fr. Sebastian said explaining that politicians are interested in building “family empires” and enriching themselves.

General elections in Ghana have been slated to take place on December 7.

In August, Catholic Bishops in the country issued a pastoral letter reminding Ghanaians about their role in ensuring free, fair, peaceful and transparent elections.

“Dearly beloved fellow citizens, now, ensuring free, fair, peaceful and transparent elections, even in this era of the COVID-19 pandemic, is a collective responsibility of all Ghanaians,” the members of the Ghana Catholic Bishops Conference (GCBC) said August 10.

GCBC members also cautioned members of the Clergy against engaging in “partisan politics.”

“The Faith Based Organizations and the Clergy should desist from openly taking part in partisan politics, from preaching predictions of election results, and from pronouncing prophecies of electoral results,” said members of GCBC in their collective statement August 10.

Magdalene Kahiu is a Kenyan journalist with passion in Church communication. She holds a Degree in Social Communications from the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA). Currently, she works as a journalist for ACI Africa.