General Secretary of the Christian Council says because the Church plays a key role in national development, it is justified in commenting on topical national issues.
Reverend Dr Kwabena Opuni-Frimpong said although governments have not hesitated to call on religious leaders for support, when these leaders speak against any policy, they are alleged to be doing the bidding of a political party.
He said if politicians can receive the Church’s support, then they must equally be comfortable with their criticisms.
“When they are inviting you to come and feed the hungry people, then we have unity. But when you ask them ‘why are people hungry, why are they poor, why are they unemployed’ they say you are making us feel bad because someone else wants to have access to Flagstaff House,” he said.
Rev Opuni-Frimpong spoke Wednesday on PM Express on the Joy News channel (Multi TV).
The General Secretary of the Council was lamenting attacks by both the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) on religious leaders when they speak on national issues.
The latest victim of this political attack, according to Rev Opuni-Frimpong, is the outgoing Presby Moderator, Rev. Professor Emmanuel Martey, who has earned the wrath of the NDC supporters for saying that an unnamed political party has tried to bribe him with $100,000, a vehicle and a house.
Some of Rev Professor Martey’s sermons have been described by NDC supporters as pro-NPP and anti-government.
However, speaking on PM Express, Rev Opuni Frimpong said although he will not speak for the outgoing Presby Moderator, Rev Professor Martey’s comments must be seen as part of the bigger complementary role that religious leaders play in national development.
“Good governance is a collective responsibility. You don’t need only politicians to develop a country,” he said.
Rev Opuni-Frimpong also blamed the media for highlighting only the controversial issues in their reportage.
Citing a report in which Rev Professor Martey is alleged to have said that the Presby Church will support an NPP government to develop Ghana, Rev Opuni-Frimpong said the reportage did not capture the context in which the outgoing Moderator made the comments.
He said Rev Professor Martey was only assuring the party that should they win the December elections, the Chuch will offer its support.