Rawlings calls for curb on "religious charlatans"

Accra, Aug. 9, GNA - President Jerry John Rawlings on Monday called for a curb on the activities of "religious charlatans" among charismatic churches and said they use teachings in the Bible to mislead their flock.

"There are too many charlatans and their activities damage the image of the charismatic churches. A way has to be found to curb their negative activities," he said.

The President said this when he granted audience to a delegation of priests from the United States who are on Monday concluding a five-day Conference dubbed "Ghana Believers Millennium Conference" in Accra.

The delegation, led by US Evangelist T.D. Jakes, included Mr Jorge Serrano, a former President of Guatemala between 1990 and 1993 who now lives in Panama, Mr Richard DeMaritte, a Bahamian Diplomat, and Mr Bill Greig, President of Regal Books/Gospel Light Publishing of the US. President Rawlings said: "leaders of some of the charismatic churches are using the name of God for material gains.

There are too many of them and they are misleading too many people." He said the leadership of the orthodox churches, as well as some members of the charismatic churches, has expressed concern at what is happening.

"Some of these issues cannot be dealt with by the law. We have a great responsibility on our hands - both the government and the churches."

President Rawlings told the pastors "if you do not (rpt not) check the bad ones among you, they will continue tarnishing your image." "Take them to task. Also, do not (rpt not) hesitate to take to task politicians. Criticise us when we go wrong," the President said.

Mr Kofi Totobi Quakyi, Minister of State for National Security, said some of the pastors attending the conference have made an impact on the people through their preaching. "They do not (rpt not) put fear in people neither do they play on their weakness.

They help lift people up." Bishop Jakes and other members of the delegation took turns to comment on progress Ghana has made and said since they arrived they have not rpt not failed to notice the peace and tranquillity Ghana is enjoying. Bishop Jakes told the President: "we have heard a lot about what you are doing and we hope to strengthen relations between African/Americans and Ghanaians."

He said they are also promoting partnership between religious leaders and governments for development. "We are empowering people for the 21st Century."

Mr Sorano, now a born-again Christian, said "since we arrived we have taken note of the tremendous opportunities here and we praise Ghana's leadership for this."