Stakeholders should collaborate to foster peace — Bishop Andam
The Bishop of the Kumasi Diocese of the Methodist Church of Ghana, Rt. Rev. Christopher Nyarko Andam, has observed that the success of this year’s election will depend largely on the demonstration of a high sense of patriotism by all the stakeholders in the game.
He has, therefore, called on all the political parties to exhibit as much decorum as possible and embark on campaigns devoid of insults and infuriating messages.
Bishop Andam, who is also the Chairman of the Kumasi Synod of the church, made these remarks at the opening of the 55th Annual Synod of the diocese at the Wesley Cathedral at Adum, Kumasi.
He also advised the Electoral Commission (EC) to listen to all stakeholders and work towards peaceful elections.
The Synod is an annual gathering of the diocese meant for stocktaking and sharing experiences and ideas for effective management, teaching and learning purposes.
Deepening fellowship
It is also for the deepening of fellowship among members of the church.
Two years ago at the Synod held at the Bethel Methodist Church, Kwadaso, Bishop Andam was voted to be the 12th Chairman of the Kumasi Synod and the 5th Bishop of the diocese to lead about 39 circuits and over 100 societies of the church.
He took over from Rt. Rev. Prof. Osei Sarfo-Kantanka.
He noted that the country belonged to all Ghanaians, so it was important for all to intensify prayer support for a successful election.
Bishop Andam reminded Ghanaians that the war situation that occurred in some West African countries; namely Cote d'lvoire, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea and others resulted in drawing back the development of those countries.
He stressed that "war brings about disaster, confusion and instability”.
Speaking on the theme for the Synod “Witnessing To Christ: The Methodist Church As An Agent of Growth and Development’’, Bishop Andam said God in his wisdom created natural resources but chose humans to serve as agents for development.
Garden of Eden
He emphasised that God put Adam in the Garden of Eden to cultivate the land and that the tilling of the land was to aid the natural growth of plants.
He noted that that truly justified that the Almighty God was a developer Himself and therefore wanted human beings created in His own image to continue with His development agenda.
Bishop Andam also said God’s teachings on the talents indicated that God desired growth and development, because He commended and blessed those who developed and grew their talents and condemned those who could not grow theirs.
Bishop Andam further reminded the ministers and lay leaders who had been put in charge of God's properties to serve as agents of the growth and development of those that God had entrusted into their hands.
Material and spiritual
The Church, he reiterated, had pursued its activities in a manner without any dichotomy between the material and the spiritual.
The Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr Alexander John Ackon, for his part, commended the Methodist Church for its immense contribution to the country's development.
Mr Ackon noted that terrorism was now closer to the country than ever before and the security alert issued recently was so real that nobody could take it for granted
He, therefore, advised Christians to burry their doctrinal differences and come together and pray for divine protection for the country, especially as the elections approached.
Better than civil war
The regional minister reminded Ghanaians that “no matter how bad some of the people think about the county, it is far better than civil war”.
Mr Ackon further reminded the people that the growth and development the people were seeking could not happen in a country in crisis and, therefore, "only ourselves could prevent this peaceful country from being torn apart by evil people”.
The Akyempimhene of Kumasi, Oheneba Adusi Poku, represented Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the Asantehene, as the Special Guest of Honour.
