Sam Pee Yalley slams clergy

Public Interest Lawyer and former Minister of State under the Rawlings regime, Sam Pee Yalley, has slammed the clergy and members of the Christian Council of Ghana (CCG) accusing them of being selective in the issues they chose to comment on in the country.

Contributing to a panel discussion on Alhaji and Alhaji, a political programme on Radio Gold, Mr. Sam Yalley said a cursory analysis of newspapers and newsitems in the country show that for the past eight years, there have been grave issues that needed the intervention of the Christian Council, but surprisingly, they were loud in their silence; citing the Issah Mobilla, KOSMOS, the Ya-Na’s murder and the Missing cocaine under police custody cases as typical examples.

“Suhini (host of the programme), when the debate about the EO Group came in…and the KOSMOS behaviour, what did the Christian Council say? What was good yesterday should be good today. And we develop, we should improve it. But when you keep quiet for eight years; you see nothing, you hear nothing, you don’t say anything for eight years, when serious issues that seek to destroy our country comes in, that is when I want to see our leaders soar above everybody and give us the guidance that we deserve. But in eight years, the GBA decided that we’ll not make any political comment. That is where my problem is,” he stated.

He was commenting on the recent statement was issued by the CCG and the Ghana Pentecostal Council (GPC) after a media briefing expressing worry over the absence of specific laws to regulate the activities of the oil sector.

Dr. Fred Deegbe, General Secretary of the CCG said they are particularly worried over the delay in the passage of two bills; Petroleum Revenue Management Bill 2010 and the Petroleum Exploration Production Bill 2010.

Whiles dismissing assertions that the Council must concentrate on seeking the spiritual upliftment of the people, the CCG said if care is not taken, the environmental challenges the country is facing in the mining sector will be replicated in the oil industry as well.

But the elder statesman, who was once served as the Environment Minister former during the first National Democratic Congress (NDC) regime, questioned the timing of the CCG’s statement, and wondered why the CCG did not comment on the Anglogold deal which was endorsed by former President Kufuor during his tenure.

“…as to their comment now, I don’t think there’s anything wrong. But, you understand, timing is also very important and it is also very crucial. Timing of all issues, I mean when people time and issue their statements is important. Why Now?” he asked.