Christian and Muslim leaders left in the cold in the Council of State’s list

Whispers Media Network has observed that the leadership of the various religious organizations are unhappy about their rejection by His Excellency John Dramani Mahama in his appointments to the Council of State.

According to them, despite the massive support enjoyed from the religious community by the National Democratic Congress and their presidential candidate, John Dramani Mahama, in the 2024 elections, not a single member was selected for the Council of State.

The 9th Council of State members comprises elected officials, appointed members and the ex-officio members. The appointed members include Daasebre Boamah Darko, Osabarima Kwesi Atta II, Justice Vida Amankwaa Akoto-Bamfo (Rtd), Cletus Avoka, Mrs. Betty-Mould Iddrisu, amongst other members.

The President is enjoined to appoint other personalities across different segments of society worthy to be on the Council of State. The Council of State, at all material times, has had at least one representative from the religious community. For reasons known only to the President, he did not find any of the members of the religious community worthy to be part of the Council of State.

In the run-up to the 2024 general elections, the Christian Council, Charismatic and Pentecostal Councils as well as the Islamic Council, rooted for the NDC’s candidate, John Dramani Mahama.

It could be recalled that, at the tail end of the 2024 electioneering campaign, some top men of God urged their members to vote for the Christian, John Mahama. Bishop Charles Agyin-Asare, on a platform of pastors, prophets and other men of God, implored them not to vote for a Muslim, a call seen by many as a subtle campaign against Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia of the New Patriotic Party.

Several other persons in the Christian and Islamic communities were seen with then candidate John Mahama to pray for him whilst assuring him of their unalloyed support for his candidature.

Some men of God also openly expressed their support for John Mahama on the basis of being a Christian, as they campaigned publicly for him to be elected to the Presidency of Ghana.

The leadership of the Islamic community did not also see the need to support, campaign and vote for the NPP’s presidential candidate in the just concluded 2024 general elections.

It, therefore, comes as shocking that despite the enormous amount of work done by the leadership of the clergy and their members to ensure the victory of President Mahama and the NDC, not even one member was considered to be worthy enough to be on the Council of State.