‘Don't politicise fight against illegal mining’

The Moderator of the Upper Northern Presbytery (UNP) of the Evangelical Presbyterian (EP) Church, Ghana, Reverend Vincent Kwaku Dagadu, has appealed to Ghanaians not to play politics with the illegal mining menace since it puts the entire nation at risk.

"Let us not play politics with this serious issue at stake; it is not going to favour any political party nor religion,” he stated.

He has, therefore, called on all to rather support the government in fighting the illegal mining menace and the measures put in place to restore the polluted rivers to drinkable clean water and heal the degraded environment.

Breaking new grounds

Rev. Dagadu made the appeal at the ninth synod of the UNP of the EP Church held at the Kukuo branch of the church in Tamale last Friday, May 25, 2018 on the theme: "Breaking New Grounds-Revisited; Now is our turn".

Politics of insults

Rev. Dagadu expressed concerns about the use of abusive language by politicians on the airwaves and in some newspapers.

He stated that it had reach an alarming rate and if something was not done about it, it would cost the country one day.

He thus used the occasion to appeal to politicians to avoid insults and the use of harsh words against their political opponents.

"I am inviting all the political parties, the government, the religious bodies, the security services, all the arms of government and the entire citizens of Ghana to come together with one mind of purpose to bring an end to this canker that is eating deep into the very fabric of our society,” he stated.

"It is my prayer that as this has been detected during the early days of our democracy, we should all do our best to correct this abnormal behaviour that is creeping into the society at a very fast pace," he noted.

Commendation

The UNP moderator also commended the government for the implementation of the free Senior High School (SHS) policy, saying the intervention has come when parents were over burdened with the payment of school fees and other commitments.

"It is our prayer that the free SHS programme will be given all the necessary support for it's sustainability,” he stated.

Turning to the Christian community, Rev. Dagadu reminded everyone that christianity was an impact-making ministry and, therefore, every Christian was supposed to make an impact where ever they found themselves.

Church and state relations

Rev. Dagadu said the EP Church, Ghana, would continue to partner the government in the delivery of quality education and healthcare to the people through its numerous schools and health facilities across the country.

The Northern Regional Minister, Mr Salifu Saeed, in a speech read on his behalf by the Regional Budget Officer, Mr Peter Owusu Frimpong, called on the church to break new grounds to support government in its development agenda.

"You have to break new grounds to help the government fight against the use of tramadol among our youth and the menace of galamsey,” he stated.

Bimbilla

The pronouncement of judgement by the Supreme Court on the Bimbilla chieftaincy case was an indication that the people of the north are peace loving.

"I would like to plead with the church to continue to pray for the peace we are enjoying as a region and the ruling government to achieve its goals for the country," he stated.