Religious leaders blame Ghana’s woes on politicians,
media
By Masahudu Ankiilu Kunateh, Ghanadot
Accra, Sept 3, Ghanadot - The Catholic and Presbyterian
churches in Ghana have blamed politicians and the media
for the fierce polarization of the country.
Commenting on the recent Agbogbloshie skirmishes, where
four persons lost their lives while several people
sustained various degrees of injuries and the shambolic
by-election held in the Akwatia constituency.
While chastising the media for dwelling too much on bad
news and too little on good news, the Metropolitan
Archbishop of Accra, the Most Rev. Charles Gabriel
Palmer-Buckle, vehemently decried politicians for
inflammatory statements and for fomenting divisiveness
for their own political agenda.
Most Rev. Palmer-Buckle reminded media practitioners in
Ghana that the world needed good news and not the old
acrimony, be it tribal, political or religious.
"I will plead with the media to talk about differences
and not tell Ghanaians that the nation is divided into
two and pit one against the other. The media must give
our children; youth and Ghanaians a better future," he
appealed.
Most Rev. Palmer-Buckle, who is the Vice-President of
the Ghana Catholic Bishops Conference, and also a Board
member of the Ghana Integrity Initiative, noted that he
was personally convinced that what was happening was a
seeming polarisation of the nation.
He said when he listened to some of the discussions and
debates on the electronic media or read some articles in
the print media, he has tempted to say that the media is
not wielding that double-edged sword of informing and
transforming, which is the power of the word,
constructively".
The Catholic Archbishop also cautioned politicians, both
past and present, not to indulge in inflammatory
statements or foment divisiveness for their own
political agenda.
Democracy is a painstaking exercise, which must take
into consideration the rule of law and the opinions of
different stakeholders in the development of the
country.
"If democracy is the rule of the people, by the people
and for the people, then the people should be able to
have a say without entering into conflict," he said.
Most Rev. Palmer-Buckle, therefore, appealed to
Ghanaians to learn from the sad experience of Cote
d'Ivoire, Togo, Niger and elsewhere so that "we do not
go the same way".
He said the only way not to tread that path "is by
respecting the laws of the country and supporting the
rule of law and not the rule of might, and by patiently
allowing whoever we have voted into power to govern this
country with the lawful machinery of governance that has
been put in place".
He said since Ghanaians were very religious, everyone
needed to pray for "God to temper all hotheads with the
balm of divine patience for the good of this country".
Most Rev. Palmer-Buckle said Ghana had received a lot of
commendation after the 2008 elections and the transition
from the NPP to the NDC and, therefore, urged Ghanaians
to stay focused on its democratic path.
"Ghana has become a beacon of hope for Africa in
democratic maturation and governance. Let us keep that
positive flame burning," he stated.
He said the clergy's promotion of national unity and
patriotism based on the common brotherhood as fellow
Ghanaians would achieve greater effect since people from
all the political persuasions and ethnic backgrounds
were in the churches and mosques.
Additionally, the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, in a
pastoral letter, noted its apprehension for "the
penchant for political parties, politicians, the media
and serial callers to politicise every issue", which, it
said, was a drawback to national development.
In a communiqué issued at the end of its ninth General
Assembly at Abetifi, the Presbyterian Church expressed
deep concern about the politicisation of every issue by
political parties, politicians and the media.
It also expressed concern about the high level of
sensationalism and unprofessionalism in the media and
called on the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) to be
in partnership with the owners of media houses, media
training institutions, and the National Media Commission
to help correct the trend.
The communiqué also expressed concern about the "Sakawa"
and the drug menace among the youth, as well as the
security situation in the country with particular
reference to the recent Agbogbloshie incident, which, it
said, threatened the peace and stability of the nation.
It further expressed concern about the reported attacks
and closures of some government offices in some parts of
the country and appealed to the President, Prof. J.E.A.
Mills, to put in place measures to nip the practice in
the bud.
However, sympathizers of the media have disagreed with
the churches assertion, saying the media undoubtedly
have contributed to the socio-economic development of
Ghana than any arm of governance in the country.
Ghanadot
