PS. PATRICK BOAMA ENTREATS RELIGIOUS LEADERS TO ADD THEIR VOICES OBJECTIVELY TO POLITICAL DISCOURSE AS EYES OF THE NATION.

Kofi Oppong Kyekyeku

July 7, 2014

Somewhere around 1992, during former president J.J Rawlings era, a nation of about 17.2 million people in Western Africa; Ghana, embraced a new system of governance, thus democracy.

Despite the wax and wanes in its practice, and especially when Ghanaians accepted the Supreme Court’s verdict with composure and equanimity; many thus outside and inside with linear perspectives eyed Ghana as a full grown democratic nation.

Nonetheless, a subordinate pastor of the Jubilee Chapel International, Ps. Patrick Addai Boama thinks the contrary.

The social commentator, believes though Ghana has practiced democracy for about 22 years, it’s still not yet attained maturity.

He in an exclusive phone interview with the News Hunter Magazine made stimulations to why religious icons decline from participating in active politics when some of them are heading and managing over 5000 people in their churches, almost the numerical value of a constituency by the constitution of Ghana.

Ps. Patrick Addai Boama explained that this is conspicuous in the fact that people frown at religious icons precisely, Christian leaders, who make inputs to political discourse even though the law allows everybody rights to freedom of speech and to take political stance.

He said Ghana’s political situation makes it impossible for such persons to take play active roles in politics.

“You become an enemy; create problems amongst your listeners and people who follow you because we are not enlightened in democracy enough…but I believe with time we’ll get there; where people will accept men of God who take up mantles in active politics”, he expressed optimism.

The man of God pointed out that, icons in Christendom, as stewards already possess qualities such as probity and accountability and are not corrupt, citing that persons like Dr. Mensah Otabil of International Central Gospel Church (ICGC), Archbishop Duncan Williams of Action Chapel International, Bishop Dag Heward Mills of the Lighthouse Chapel International inter alia, are men of God who started very little but now are very successful apparently showing their leadership skills.

He continued that these people are influential and their objective contribution to politics will step up the rate of development in the nation, entreating his colleges to add their voices constructively to political discourse.

However Ps. Patrick Addai conceded, he will admonish man of God not to meddle in active politics since that will be detrimental to their church, mission and calling; and could even collapse their church.

“…but for now, I will not encourage any man of God to get involved”, he cautioned making an afterthought that, if a religious leader wants to play politics following an instruction received from God, he has nothing against it since “we are all yearning for people who are not corrupt and self-centered who can lead us to the place God has ordained for our dear nation”, he commented.

“I am even foreseeing a time where political leaders will surround themselves with insightful men of God who will give counsel and directions.

He added that King David in the bible disobeyed God and the consequences of that scourged the whole nation, hence if leaders of the country sought counsel from men of God, the nation would have escaped some of its current crises bedeviling it.

BY: Nono Edem