Presby Church PRO Backpedals

The Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG) has denied ever accusing Johnson Asiedu Nketia of speaking under the influence of alcohol.

The PCG came under a lot of criticism after its leadership waded into the controversial 45 new constituencies to be created by the Electoral Commission (EC). The church called on the EC to suspend the proposed creation of 45 new constituencies ahead of the December poll because it was too close to the elections and could therefore create chaos.

However, Mr. Asiedu Nketia and Allotey Jacobs, Central Regional Director of Communication for the NDC felt otherwise.

The NDC General Secretary, reportedly slammed the Moderator of the PCG and accused the church of doing the bidding of the opposition after the Church issued a communiqué saying the timing for the creation of the constituencies is wrong and could mar the beauty of the upcoming elections.

General Mosquito, as he is affectionately called, asserted that since the Presby Church failed to comment on the creation of 30 constituencies in 2004 during the Kufour era, it had no business to talk about the yet-to-be created 45 under the current NDC government.

Incidentally, Mr Asiedu Nketia is a member of the Hope Congregation of the Presby Church at Sakumono.

On the part of Benard Allotey Jacobs, he is reported to have accused the church of being pro-NPP and only finding its voice to comment negatively on national issues when the NDC is in power. He opined that though he respects the Presby Church, it is not above criticism so anytime the PCG goes wrong, he will chastise them.

Clearly not enthused by the comments, Emmanuel Osei Akyeampong, Public Relations Officer of the PCG, in sharp riposte, allegedly said that the NDC Chief Scribe was perhaps under the influence of alcohol when he made those comments about the Moderator and the Presbyterian Church “because any normal person cannot speak like that.”

“We don’t know whether Mr Asiedu Nketia was drunk before he went on air, but we think that what he said was highly irresponsible...He (Asiedu Nketia) is gradually becoming a political liability more than an asset to this country and we expect him to come out openly to apologize to the leadership of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana…We are a responsible institution; what the Moderator said is the position of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana. Asiedu Nketia is highly irresponsible...You cannot insult the leadership of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana and expect that you enter into our churches to campaign and sell your message….We think that he should be brought to order together with Allottey Jacobs and all other leading political parties from both NPP and NDC and all other political parties, who think they are in political positions they can just insult anybody,” he said last Saturday on Asempa FM.

However, in a quick volte-face, the mouthpiece of the Presby Church denied in an interview with Kwami Sefa Kayi on Peace FM’s morning show, ‘Kokrokoo, that he made any unsavoury remarks against the NDC capos and implied that if any such tape exists, then it must have been doctored.

“We want to place on record that the Presbyterian Church of Ghana is a non-partisan institution and so we should not be branded as belonging to the NPP. We respect the NDC as well as the rest of the other parties. So we will not do anything that will mar that relationship…we have never said that…..When the issue came, Allotey Jacobs and Asiedu Nketia made some remarks which we found to be quite offensive because the Presbyterian Church is not an NPP church. During the NPP era we talked about ROPAL... Asiedu Nketia really insulted the Presbyterian Church; meanwhile we work hand in hand. We were not happy with what they said and requested that they retract and apologize. I never described as a drunk...The first interview I granted was with myjoyonline and...so the tape can be listened to, but if anyone has gone for it and doctored it, it is up to them…” he added.