As Ghanaians go to the polls this year, Very Rev. Fr. Dr. Paul Saa-Dade Ennin, SMA, President of the Conference of Major Superiors of Religious- Ghana (CMSR-Gh) has called on Ghana’s Electoral Commission not only to be fair and neutral but must be seen to be a fair and neutral arbiter.
In a New Year Message made available to newswatchgh.com, he also called on the National Peace Council to be bold and conscientious, “for you play a key role in safeguarding the peace we enjoy as a nation.”
“Your loyalty is to Ghana and to the citizens of Ghana and not to a political party or a minister. Ghana must come first. The protection of Ghanaian lives must be paramount. No one must loose his/her life because of elections,” he stated.
To the citizens of Ghana, he said the country belonged to them, hence, “The ultimate power lies in our hands. We must be vigilant and wise to choose people we trust to govern us and deliver the peace and prosperity we yearn for.”
He cautioned: “Enough of selling our votes for a pot of porridge or sardines line Esau and then go complaining when our birthright is taken from us. Let’s vote wisely and ensure our votes count!”
Fr. Ennin who is also the Superior of the Society of African Missions (SMA) Ghana Province, reminded political parties, their followers and all the candidates that no one is bigger than Ghana.
He asked politicians and Ghanaians in general to be circumspect in their utterances and in their actions as the go about their campaigns.
“To the law enforcement agencies, no one is above the law. You are paid by Ghana and the citizens of Ghana, just like the president, his ministers, the Members of Parliament, the EC and every civil servant,” Fr. Ennin stated.
He said after 32 years of democratic rule, one would have expected an election year to be a normal year but unfortunately, according to him, “2024 does not look like a normal election year for the stakes are higher than ever before.”
“Between the return of a former president, the determination of a ruling party to break the 8 in the midst of so many challenges and economic hardship and a yearning of a disillusioned population for genuine change, a better and prosperous Ghana, no one should deceive us that 2024 is going to be election as usual,” he indicated.
Fr. Ennin therefore advised all people of faith to pray fervently for Ghana throughout the year, calling on all stakeholders to play their roles in putting Ghana and its future first.
Newswatchgh.com
