NDC-UCF unhappy about Christian Council statement

The United Cadres’ Front of the NDC have welcomed the outcome of the meeting of Heads of Churches/Organizations and Executive Committee members of the Christian Council of Ghana, held on September 9, 2014 at the Secretariat of the Council, Accra; which culminated in a 66-point release on various issues concerning the wellbeing of Ghana and Ghanaians, and signed by its General Secretary, Rev. Dr. Kwabena Opuni-Frimpong.

It was apt that members of the Council acknowledged their prophetic role as development partners, which imposes a responsibility on them to continue to support nation building efforts and hold government accountable for the well-being of every citizen of this country; while promoting national dialogue around the search for policies and strategies towards the economic growth, prosperity and peace of our people.

What the UCF of the NDC are worried about is the fact of non-recognition of the numerous efforts the President Mahama’s government that has been effectively working for only 12 months of its 4-year mandate after an unprecedented 8-month court action that some strongly consider has pushed our democracy more forward than any attempts to put bread and butter on our table. Sadly, the Council even failed to recognize the showers of blessing the Good Lord has bestowed on us as a nation; as sinful as we are. At least, the Council should have acknowledged the peace and stability that Ghanaians go about their duties and responsibilities without little let or hindrance.

We of the UCF strongly believe that the religious has rather abandoned its prophetic call (except that of doom) in helping the government to seriously tackle the catalogue of problems that the Council laid at the door-step of the government. Having over 70% of the population under its armpit as Christians, we believe the Christian Council needed not to wait on government to provide education through the pulpit on good sanitation practices, hard work, shun of unbridled opulence, corruption that has engulfed every fabric of our society; and of course demand for good governance as they have done.

It is a well-known fact and sincerely admitted by government that the national economy is challenged having repercussions on the development efforts of the country including non-fulfillment of statutory obligations. It is also a fact that some sections of the population are facing hardship due to for example unemployment.

But have we gravely reflected on the fact that Ghanaians, by and large, enjoy to the fullest on Friday nights; organize and attend very expensive funerals and other social events on Saturdays; and to crown it all, attend church on Sundays in the best of clothes, call for the best of engagements and weddings; and generously participate in multiple offertory and appeal-for-funds sessions?

If the Church could re-discover its age-old role of providing moral counseling and practice of virtue in society; if the church could join hands with the government in the provision of schools, hospitals and other social and economic infrastructure, especially among the vulnerable and less privileged people living in the remotest parts of our country - without waiting for government approval - then the mission of prophecy and partners in development as espoused in the Christian Council’s release could have been consummated and appreciated.

The UCF is very passionate about this submission since it seems the prophetic role of the Church; the parental role of the Family; and the modeling role of the Teacher have all been abandoned and left all the fingers pointing to the government; which unfortunately is nobody but ALL OF US!

Signed:
EFANAM FELIX NYAKU
GENERAL SECRETARY, UCF OF NDC
(15TH SEPTEMBER, 2014)