Corruption, nepotism bane of Africa — Rev. Lesmore Ezekiel

 The Programme Director of All Africa Conference of Churches (AACC), an association of churches in Africa, Rev. Dr Lesmore Gibson Ezekiel, has expressed concern about the “experience of corruption, nepotism, tribalism in churches and the wider community” in Africa. 

He said that such practices had contributed to the continent’s retrogression because merit, competence and professionalism had been slaughtered on the altar of tribalism and nepotism.

“You will find people who are competent to be given public offices, but because they have no connection to someone in power, they are not appointed or employed.

“Those in power will identify their relatives, people who come from their tribes and parties and give them offices they do not qualify for; this ethical issue must be dealt with if we want to make progress in Africa,” Rev. Dr Ezekiel added, in an interview with the Daily Graphic in Accra.

He further said that governance in Africa must be driven by competence, professionalism and ethics that gave life.

Rev. Dr Ezekiel added that there were certain ethical values and principles that must be implemented to bring about transformation, while dealing with self-centredness in Africa. 

Event

The programme director was speaking on the sideline of a capacity building training session for senior church leaders in West and Central Africa, organised by the AACC, in collaboration with the Wisconsin International University College (WIUC).

The event, held at the WIUC in Accra on Tuesday, focused on strengthening and deepening the culture of ethical leadership among religious communities.

The three-day conference, dubbed; “Ecclesia Ethical Leadership Capacity Strengthening Course”, also aimed at equipping church leaders from 15 African countries with appropriate knowledge, skills and attitudes to meet national development needs, and to face global challenges through quality teaching, learning, research and knowledge dissemination.

In attendance were the Chairman of Christian Council, Rev. Dr Hilliard Dela Dogbe, the Moderator of the Methodist Church, Most Rev. Dr Paul Kwabena Boafo, and the President of WIUC, Professor Obeng Mireku.

The AACC is a continental ecumenical body established in 1963. It was born out of the commitment of different African churches, post- independence era.

It is a fellowship of 210 members, comprising churches, national councils of churches (NCCs), theological and lay training institutions and other christian organisations in 43 African countries, including Ghana, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Liberia, Kenya, Ethiopia, Central Africa Republic and Togo, among others.

Some member churches include Protestant, Anglican, Methodists, Baptists, Lutheran, Orthodox and Indigenous churches.

The AACC is currently representing more than 200 million christians across the continent. 

Leadership, campaigns

The Moderator of the Methodist Church, Most Rev. Dr Boafo, urged church leaders to champion the cause of ethical leadership to help their members appreciate good morals.

He also called on politicians to exemplify good ethics and morality in their utterances and behaviours during campaigns.

The moderator admonished them to avoid inciteful and tribal statements to promote peace before, during and after the December 7 elections this year.

“I want to encourage our politicians to be guided in their utterances on their campaign platforms to help sustain the peace we are enjoying. “Our politics and campaigns must be issues-based,” he added.