In their 2024 Lenten Pastoral Letter to the people of God, the members of the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference have admonished Ghanaians to ensure they help make Ghana a true Star of Africa as the nation prepares for the general elections in December.
“The fruits or blessings of Lent are not for only Catholics or Christians, but for the whole nation. Therefore, 2024 being a year of general elections, we wish to call upon all Ghanaians to duly undertake their civic duties, the Bishops said.
The Pastoral Letter issued on February 13, 2024 and on the theme: “We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled with God” (2 Cor 5:20) noted that “The common good of Ghanaians and the development of our nation should guide us in all our actions.”
Signed by the Most Rev. Matthew Gyamfi , President of the Conference, the Bishops said, “We should be united to achieve these goals and related ones. Such unity requires that we seek reconciliation with one another as well as between groups.”
According to the Bishops, while the 1992 Constitution allows for multi-party democracy, this did not mean antagonism, violence, hatred, bitterness, quarrels, killings and the like, saying, “It rather means, different perspectives, approaches and processes to achieve the national goals for the good of all citizens and posterity.”
“Whereas we continue to maintain affiliations to different parties, let us be reconciled as persons,” the Bishops averred, stating, “In this light, we urge offenders to acknowledge their offences and the offended to forgive.”
The Ghanaian Prelates asked the citizens to resolve to make the 2024 campaign, voting exercise, the declaration of results and the aftermath one of a great difference.
They urged Ghanaians to exercise their franchise conscientiously during the elections, asking them to “eschew the vote-buying and vote-selling syndromes. In a digital age, where everybody could be a journalist, we urge all Ghanaians to use the social media, internet, mobile phones, etc., in a more positive and better way.”
“These devices are not to be used to fuel hate and violent speeches, but to promote peace, truth and justice in view of a better Ghana, the Bishops advised.
