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| Mr Ablakwa with Ms Frances Asiam, and Ms Agnes Okudjeto |
A DEPUTY Minister of Information, Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has called on Christians to participate in the upcoming biometric registration as a civic responsibility.
According to him, directives of the nation should be the priority of all Christians just as all other activities relating to Christianity are important to them.
He also charged political party activists and sympathisers to be wary of their actions, which, he said had gone to demonise politics as a violence cause not worthy of involvement.
“Beyond the intense rivalry and political talk among the New patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC), there are so many things that unite politicians”, Mr Ablakwa remarked.
Mr Ablakwa made the call at a church service, dubbed, ‘Thank God for Ghana’, at the Mount Cedar Assemblies of God church in Accra on Sunday.
The programme, on the theme, “Let Ghana be peaceful before, during and after December elections”, was also attended by the second Vice Chairperson of the NPP, Ms Agnes Okudzeto, and parliamentary candidate for the Adenta Constituency, Ms Frances Asiam, among other party functionaries.
According to the minister, the two giant parties are only symbols and should therefore not be allowed by the generality of Ghanaians to take them to war.
“If Christians failed to partake in such national courses, they give the room to all manner of people to opt for unworthy leaders for the country and its repercussions would be retrogression”, he counselled.
Quoting a verse from Matthew chapter 5 verse 9 in the bible, which reads, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called, sons of God”, Mr Ablakwa said the divisive language and insults on political opponents would only go to burn the garments of the generality of the entire society, as a result of political immaturity, displayed by some leaders.
He said Christianity must revolve around all spheres of life which also had politics as an aspect.
“I am of the believe that regular prayer meetings and the preaching of virtues by political leaders and office holders should serve as a guide, as the political campaign seasons moves into gear”, Mr Ablakwa hoped.
He also wondered why there was much talk about high stakes in the upcoming election and queried, “would God not give people oxygen to breath, even if they should lose elections?”
The Second Vice Chairperson of the NPP, Ms Okudzeto, for her part challenged politicians to let humility, love and meekness that Jesus campaigned on in winning the whole world to his side to be the symbol of their political campaign activities.
She also charged Christians to adopt the mantle of peace and fervently intercede on behalf of the nation.
Earlier in a sermon, the Lead Pastor of the Mount Cedar Chapel, Rev. Stephen Wengam, charged the two big parties to ensure that their activities in the run up to the elections were informed by the fruit of the spirit.
“You cannot claim to be Christians by mouth and proclaim war on your political opponents in your heart”, he said.
Rev. Wengam expressed the hope that the cohesion and public display by politicians would go to be positively influenced by their followers, as we make strides to have a peaceful election.
SOURCE: Della Russel Ocloo, Daily Graphic, Tue March 13, 2012
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