President Nana Akufo-Addo has delivered a stinging critic of churches remarking that it is becoming a pale shadow of what it used to be generations ago.
He observed that churches have shifted from charity to prosperity and said calls for churches and their leaders to be taxed are understandable.
“The difficult truth once you get into the wealth and prosperity sphere you necessarily slip into the tax and accounting.”
“When you step out of the charity sphere, out of education, health care you are putting yourself in the line of the tax man,” he repeatedly admonished.
Ghana’s leader lamented that the church used to be the moral and socio-economic conscience of society when it paid particular attention to leading campaigns like cleanliness and godliness while investing in schools and health services.
“The church preached and practiced.” He chose a past tense word to describe a dwindling adherence to doctrines that promote modesty and a pro-poor posture.
President Akufo-Addo said some churches in Ghana now “compete to show who is more powerful and rich.”
He said the average Ghanaian who goes to church can no longer identify with the lifestyle choices of their church leaders.
The President declined to name and shame, he said but added that “some of the churches appear to forget about the poor and vulnerable.”
He also expressed worry about excessive noise pollution during church services such as all-night. These days, churches have been “keeping whole communities awake night after night” through bluring microphones, drumming and playing instruments to disturbing levels.”