‘NDC must offer more vibrant opposition’

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) should step up efforts to provide a more vibrant opposition to the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) to help nurture the nation’s democratic dispensation, a Minister of the Gospel, has advised.

The Reverend Dr Kofi Amfo-Akonnor, Chairperson of the Asante Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG), said democracy without a vibrant opposition lacked credibility, saying such a situation did not auger well for political development.

The NDC, he said, should resolve, therefore, to strengthen its internal structures in order to be formidable in presenting alternative development options and constructive criticisms of the government’s policies and programmes.

Rev. Dr Amfo-Akonnor was addressing a ministers’ conference of the PCG at the Bantama Peyer Memorial Presbtyerian Church in Kumasi.

The programme formed part of the 95th Presbytery Congress of the church and held on the theme, “When the Holy Spirit Moves the Church is Sustained”

It was designed to update the knowledge of the ministers of the church of their terms of reference, particularly relating to the propagation of the Gospel and staying focused to the cause of humanity.

The Asante Presbytery Chairperson took a swipe at the leadership of the nation for playing double standards in the current campaign to bring down the incidence of illegal small-scale mining (galamsey).

“How can we fight this menace when the same people spearheading this campaign are the very ones doing the worst things?”

Rev. Dr. Amfo-Akonnor advocated a resilient crusade to save Ghana’s bio-diversity, and warned of dire consequences for the nation if the current spate of environmental degradation was not addressed.

He impressed upon the various congregations of the church to focus on the PCG’s Non-Formal Education Project, a programme initiated by the Presbytery to reduce the illiteracy rate among its members. 

He also demanded of the various circuits to enhance their outreach and humanitarian services for the wellbeing of the society in which they operated.