Religion must not take centre stage in politics — Prof. Haynes

Don’t allow religion to take centre stage in Ghana politics, an Emeritus Professor of Politics at the London Metropolitan University, Jeffrey Haynes, has admonished.

He said that while religion was essential, keeping a balance of that on the political landscape would help the country promote a more equitable, stable and progressive society capable of protecting minority groups.

“Keep the influence of religion but don’t allow religion to dominate the secular political landscape and the Constitution,” Prof. Haynes added.

He was speaking at the 19th annual “Kronti ne Akwamu” (Democracy and Governance) public lecture in Accra last Tuesday, on the theme: “Religion and liberal democracy in the Fourth Republic”.

The “Kronti ne Akwamu” lecture is the CDD’s flagship annual public lecture on democracy and governance aimed to bridge the gap between reflection, research and analysis, and democracy and good governance advocacy.

The lecture, which was chaired by the Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church, Ghana, Most Rev. Prof. Kwabena Asamoah-Gyadu, was to enrich the quality of public discourse on democratic and governance reforms. 

‘Anti-gay Bill’

Prof. Haynes made reference to the passage of the Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill, popularly known as Anti-gay Bill, and said that since Ghana had signed up to international agreements to protect all citizens from any form of attack, such a bill could make Ghana seem like a country where there was less freedom, fairness and justice.

“I see the Anti-gay bill as one which will fundamentally take the liberal freedoms of minority of Ghanaian people.

“There are many faiths in Ghana who are against the bill. Many people are too frightened to speak up against the bill. The bill went through parliament unanimously which I think it is hard to explain if people had been free to vote according to their conscience,” Prof.  Haynes, who is also a Daily Graphic columnist, said.
 

Churches’ role

Discussing the intricate relationship between religion and liberal democracy in Ghana, particulary in the context of the Fourth Republic, Prof. Haynes said the church had historically played a pivotal role in advocating democratic reforms, citing the pressure exerted on the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) in 1992 to democratise.

He cited instances such as during electioneering when politicians leverage their religious affiliations to gain voters’ support.

For instance, Prof. Haynes mentioned the use of a slogan-“The battle is the Lord’s”, which was used by the New Patriotic Party's (NPP) in previous elections.

However, he said, the growth of Christian nationalism posed a challenge to Ghana's secular governance system, adding that a governance system rooted in Christian values could raise questions about the imposition of beliefs on a diverse populace.

Citing the outcome of studies by Ghanaian scholars and afrobarometer reports, he said, Ghana’s liberal democracy was said to be in decline across all categories of global state of democratic frameworks such as credible elections, access to justice and freedom of association.

Values

For his part, Most Rev. Prof. Asamoah-Gyadu said it was important for the citizens and leaders to cultivate constructive human values that reflected the image of God.

That, he said, would help enhance the country’s democratic credentials.

“The Bible does not say in the beginning God created the Methodist or Presbyterian. In the beginning God created human in his image and so we must promote those things that affirm our common humanity,” the Presiding Bishop said.

He urged the people and political leaders trusted with public authority to use the nation’s resources for the public good.