CHURCHES EXPRESS CONCERN ABOUT POLITICAL TENSION (PAGE 16)

THE Local Council of Christian Churches in the Ashanti Region has expressed concern about the spate of political tension in the run-up to the December general election and has therefore called on the leadership of the various political parties " to educate their followers to guard against negative and provocative utterances to avoid unnecessary violence before and after the elections".
According to the Council, the need for the followers to be " accommodating, selfless, patient and patriotic" was key to successful elections that would lead Ghana to the next stage of her development endeavours.
At a press conference in Kumasi to express their displeasure about the political turmoil in the country as the December general elections drew nearer, the members pointed out that " recent political events in some parts of Africa, notably Kenya and Zimbabwe, suggested that there was the urgent need for the Church in Ghana to unite and initiate intercessory prayers that would enhance unity, understanding and peaceful co-existence among the citizenry.
This, according to the Council, would ensure a "free, fair, transparent and peaceful Presidential and Parliamentary elections come December 7, 2008".
The Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Kumasi, Rt. Rev Daniel Yinka Sarfo, chaired the press conference, which was attended by the leadership of the various churches in the region.
The statement, which was read by the Chairman of the Planning Committee of the Council , Rev. Douglas Okoneh Frimpong, said it was time the church intervened by bringing all the flag bearers of the political parties together for an intercessory prayer meeting as a way of calming the storm which is threatening unity, peace and stability being enjoyed by the nation .
According to the council, a three –day intercessory prayer meeting, which will begin from 5p.m. to 8p.m., would be held on zonal basis for all the Christians in the Kumasi Metropolis and its environs from November 10 to 13, 2008.
















Rev. Frimpong, who read the message, said the prayer meeting would be climaxed on Sunday, November 16, 2008, at the Jubilee Park in Kumasi and " all the Presidential aspirants would be invited to join us pray for free, fair, transparent and peaceful elections".
The council said for the country to have successful elections, there was also the need for the Electoral Commission " to ensure that all polling stations in all the constituencies are adequately provided with the needed logistics, and all staff members and agents remain faithful and impartial during the elections".
To the public, the council urged them to refrain from engaging in unnecessary violence and electoral malpractices, and also remain law-abiding and faithful enough to accept the results.
The council said it was equally important for the public " to turn out in their numbers to exercise their franchise without fear of intimidation, manipulation or violence".
It also called on the security forces not only to maintain the peace being enjoyed in the country but should also prevent politicians from infiltrating their ranks.
The council said for the country to have free, fair and transparent elections, the media also should be circumspect in all their reportage and avoid any form of " discriminatory act, favouritism, nepotism, and selfish partisan interest in the exercise of their professional duties".