Religion matters in the 2008 elections ? Professor Akosa.

Analysts and commentators are openly saying that ?religious beliefs? should have no bearing on political stands taken by candidates in 2008 elections. Some commentators and ?news paper editors? feel threatened when religious leaders and politicians use their rhetoric to promote public policy that are at odds with what the ?government believe?.

?As a faith base nation but, one people with common destiny, don?t we feel great when public policy is in line with our values and beliefs?? asks Akosa.

During a telephone interview with this writer in Tamale, Akosa was asked about ?separation of church and state?. Akosa?s answer, as so often in the law ? is ?not exactly?. Akosa explain that ?the courts do indeed enforce a separation of church and state?, but said ?one must be careful not to misunderstand what the doctrine and the Ghanaian constitution that is said to embody it, were designed to do?. Akosa explains that religions play vital roles as independent sources of meaning for their adherents. Akosa said, ?By understanding the distinction between the church and the state is the key to preserving the necessary separation without resorting to a philosophical rhetoric?. However, he went on to explain that he ?rely on religious values in making judgement as a citizen ? the values I hold as a Christian are the right of conscience and the use of the democratic process, peace, liberty and justice for all?.

As head of National Health Service, Akosa held on to his core values of probity and accountability. In his analysis on Poverty, Akosa observed, ?Poverty will not be removed until the causes of poverty are removed?.

When Akosa was asked in Tamale, ?Do you pray?? he answered, ?I pray every single day of my life; not on my knees, but with my work?.

?My prayer is to create employment opportunities for my compatriots; my prayer is to uplift millions of my compatriots from abject poverty. My prayer is to ensure every working man and woman in Ghana can own their own home, have access to good drinking water, good sanitation, be able to feed their children, have access to electricity, create educational and skills based opportunities for the youth. My prayer is to transform my homeland from a poor third world economy into a sustaining middle income economy. My prayer is the prosperity of my homeland. This is my calling.? said Akosa.

Akosa said what most great reformers of the twentieth century have in common is ?the belief that religion is no religion unless we live it, unless we let it inspire and encourage us to make real in the world what we believe in ? such as good housing, better education, good health care, provide good services to the vulnerable and the needy?.

Akosa said as individuals we can address candidates and issues, that our church and mosque can empower us and give us the information we need to do so. Akosa said ?some of us question whether our church/mosque should take stands on public issues?. He stated that, ?I would stand with Mahatma Gandhi? when he said, ?Those who say that religion has nothing to do with politics, do not know what religion means?.

When Aksoa was asked whether Christians should vote for a God fearing candidate, he answered by saying:

?I will never tell you how I think you should vote concerning any candidate, but I will tell you what I think about values I cherish and believe is to see every Ghanaian able to live the great Ghanaian ?dream?, by owning a piece of Ghana. I want everyone to have the same opportunities??there is no difference between young Adama in Tamale, Joojo in Sekondi, Fiifi in Cape Coast, Yao in Ho, Akwasi in Kumasi and Opoku in Techiman. In the eyes of the good Lord, they are all Ghanaians and there must be given the same opportunity to excel. That is what I call the Ghanaian Dream. This is the opportunity President Nkrumah created for all Ghanaians, this is the same opportunities I am going to continue to ensure everyone is given a fair chance to become successful. This is what underpins my ambition to serve the Ghanaian people, to offer selfless government. Ghanaians Deserves Better.?

Akosa said our faith matters in the public dialogue of our day on environmental issues, on education, health, housing, resource management, on social issues such as the plight of street children, mentally ill, prison reforms, poverty and more.

Akosa asks, ?Will taking a stand on any of these issues be easy??

?Last week we attended CPP rally in the 3 Northern Regions, ?Value Your Vote and Every Vote Counts? event which was organised by the youth. I was proud that we were there with thousands of Ghanaians, hearing speakers on key issues and responses of CPP parliamentary candidates and those seeking CPP national office? said Akosa.

?It was good to be there to hear the different voices of people, from street children, doctors, teachers, workers, students and market women. It was good we join our strength together to hear stories of the difficult conditions we are campaigning to change. It was good to be there to hear people sing, We shall over come Someday, and the national anthem, God Bless Our Homeland Ghana. It was good to be there, because those songs are true. We shall over come, come December 2008. God Bless my Homeland Ghana?, Akosa stated.