Be measured in utterances - Bishop Mensah urges public office seekers
The Board Chairman of the Full Gospel Church International, Bishop Dr Samuel Noi Mensah, has stressed the need for people seeking to lead the nation to be measured in their speech and utterances.
Such persons, he said, must rather portray attributes that seek to unite the country towards development and progress.
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He said the reactions to the comments made by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) 2024 running mate, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, popularly known as NAPO, comparing the contributions of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and Ghana’s first President, Dr Kwame Nkrumah, should serve as as a lesson to persons in authority and those seeking public office to be measured in their utterances.
Dr Opoku Prempeh has since apologised for his comments that some interpreted as disrespectful to Ghana's first President, Dr Kwame Nkrumah. He acknowledged the concerns raised, apologised sincerely and expressed regret for any discomfort caused by his comments.
Past Leaders
Bishop Dr Mensah, who is also a former President of the Full Gospel Church International, explained that comments disrespecting and downplaying the achievements of past leaders and their contributions to national development must not be tolerated in the country’s body-politic.
He said such comments against Dr Kwame Nkrumah did not only distort history but were also offensive to the people of Ghana, including the big six such as J.B.
Danquah, Edward Akufo-Addo (President Nana Addo’s father), Ako Adjei, Obetsebi-Lamptey and William Ofori Atta who were known as founding leaders of the United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC), which is the tradition of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and their role in the struggle and fight for Ghana’s independence.
Free elections
Bishop Dr Mensah also called for free, fair and credible elections in the December 2024 general election. He admonished all stakeholders to give a level playing field to every contestant and allow Ghanaians to make their choice.
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He said all stakeholders of institutions that have a role to play in the 2024 elections, should ensure that the will of the people are respected by upholding the actual results of the elections.
“To subvert the will of the people in this elections will be disastrous for us as a nation. The President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo must ensure he will handover a peaceful nation and not a nation that is divided through civil unrest,” he stressed.