The General Secretary of the Christian Council of Ghana, Rev Dr Kwabena Opuni- Frimpong has described the President’s campaign to create a Ghana beyond aid as cheap populist talk.
According to him, Ghana still needs aid and that people who campaign against development aid to Ghana appear not to know what the reality looks like.
Rev Opuni-Frimpong noted that donor countries had to monitor case by case to see that the money was well spent to have their money’s worth.
He said such populist campaign undermines operations of nongovernmental organisations and other institutions that do business with the donor agencies.
Rev Dr Samuel Asenso Bediako, a former pastor of the Presbyterian Church now based in the United States, also described the President’s campaign as premature and unnecessary looking at the country’s current economic situation.
“We need more than sweet political promises, rambling narratives and confusing signals, no matter how amusing, we need real change and the nation needs a new birth.
“We need political leaders who are ready to confront our challenges with practical, tough but prudent solutions, walk their talk, will always be on the side of the people who are committed, not in the cradle of those who will eventually stab the masses in the back after getting their votes.
“There are many Ghanaians still jobless, the face of poverty is still on our streets, there are still no accountability for rights violators, there are still multiple standards of justice and people still cynical about our justice system because of political manipulations and our corrupt officials are called heroes by their political friends,” Rev Bediako lamented.
He advised politicians in Africa to stop their cheap political rhetoric about development aid to Africa stressing that the President should focus on building on what he inherited from his predecessors and clear from his government arrogant officials.
Rev Bediako slammed politicians who fantasize that they are omnipotent appointees who think public service is a private trust fund.
“These are the issues the President should concern himself with, after 10 months the demagogic promises seem to have given way to compromise, reversals and even betrayal over time.
“People waited and still waiting with varying degree of disbelief and hope that poverty will wane, corruption curbed, impunity abated, economic well being assured, foreign intervention and domination stopped.
“These are the issues we must dispassionately tackle not cheap populist narratives and assurances,” Rev Bediako stressed.
Source: The Ghanaian Times
Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. |
SINCE CHILDHOOD WE ALL KNOW THAT "NECESSITY IS THE MOTHER OF INVENTION." GHANA AND AFRICA CAN NEVER GROW IF WE BECOME DEPENDENCE ON DONORS AND AIDS. IT SHAll BE DIFFICULT AT THE BEGINNING TO WEAN OURSELVES OFF FOREIGN DONORS, BUT IT IS ONLY BY THAT CONDITION THAT WE CAN LEARN TO MANAGE OUR OWN CHALLENGES, BECOME CREATIVE AND GROW. IN FACT IT IS TIME FOR CHRISTIANITY OR ANY RELIGION IN GHANA AND AFRICA TO CHANGE THEIR MENTALITY. MANY OF OUR PASTORS HAVE TURN RELIGION TO MADNESSSS AND TO MAKE MOCKERY OF GOD. THEY DON'T PRAY TO ASK GOD TO GIVE THEM WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE TO MANAGE THEIR LIVES AND RESOURCES. INSTEAD THEY PRAY THAT GOD GIVEs THEM MANNA FROM HEAVEN, GIVE THEM MARRIAGE AND JOB, GIVE THEM VISA TO GO TO AMERICA and ELSEWHERE. UNFORTUNATELY MANY OF OUR GOOD FOR NOTHING PASTORS ENCOURAGE SUCH HABITS BY ASKING PEOPLE TO FAST AND PRAY FOR DAYS AND THE WHOLE NIGHTS FOR SUCH FRUITLESS ENDEAVOUR. THEY DONT HELP THEIR FOLLOWERS TO THINK AND USE THE BRAIN GOD HAS GIVEN TO THEM. THEY WASTE THEIR ENERGY AND PRECIOUS TIME IN VERY LONG PRAYERS AND WORSHIP. THE SAD THINGS ABOUT GHANAIANS IN AMERICA IS THAT THEY HAVE NOT LEARNT ANY GOOD HABITS FROM OTHERS THEY HAVE MET IN DIASPORA. IN AMERICA THEIR CHURCH SERVICE HARDLY GOES BEYOND AN HOUR. MANY AMERICANS ARE VERY DEVOUT CHRISTIANS AND THEY MANAGE TO DEVELOP A HEALTHY SPIRITUALITY WITHIN SUCH CULTURE. UNFORTUNATELY WHEN GHANAIANS COMMUNITIES CONSTITUTE A CHURCH IN AMERICA, CATHOLIC, METHODIST, PRESBY, YOU NAME IT, THEY SPEND THREE HOURS IN WORSHIP. YET, THEY ARE NOT BETTER IN ANYWAY THAN THEIR COUNTERPARTS WHO GO TO CHURCH AND SPEND AN HOUR IN WORSHIP. THE EVIL OF THIS HABITS IS PROMOTED BY THEIR LEADERS WHO ALWAYS MANIPULATE THEIR CHURCH MEMBERS WITH FEAR, SUSPICIONS AND UNREASONABLE HOPES FOR MIRACLES. IT IS TIME FOR AFRICA CHRISTIANITY TO MATURE TO ADDRESS THE REAL ISSUES IN AFRICA. TWO MAIN EVIL IN AFRICA ARE FIRST LACK OF MANAGEMENT OF LIFE AND RESOURCES AND SECOND INABILITY TO STOP WASTE AND CORRUPTION. HOW EFFECTIVE ARE YOU MANAGING YOUR LIVE AS A CHRISTIAN WHEN YOU ACHIEVE IN THREE HOURS WHAT SOMEBODY CAN ACHIEVE IN ONE HOUR. AFRICAN PASTORS ARE NOT SMART, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO LIVE IN DIASPORA. THEY ARE FAKE AND MANIPULATORS. I AM MAD AT THEM. THEY ARE NOT LEARNING TO TEACHING THEIR CONGREGATION ANYTHING GOOD. PLEASE FELLOW GHANAIANS AND AFRICANS WAKE UP AND GET RID OF SUCH WASTE EMANATING FROM PASTORS. GO TO CHURCH EVERY WEEK. BUT DONT SPENT THREE HOURS IN CHURCH. ONE OUR IS ENOUGH FOR GOD TO LISTEN TO YOU. GOD WILL HAVE NO MORE TIME FOR YOU IF YOU CANNOT MANAGE TO ENGAGE HIM FOR ONE HOUR. HE HAS SO MANY PEOPLE TO ATTEND TO AND SO MANY THINGS TO DO. DONT WASTE HIS TIME IF YOU DONT WANT TO USE THE BRAINS HE HAS GIVEN TO YOU.
SINCE CHILDHOOD WE ALL KNOW THAT "NECESSITY IS THE MOTHER OF INVENTION." GHANA AND AFRICA CAN NEVER GROW IF WE BECOME DEPENDENCE ON DONORS AND AIDS. IT SHAll BE DIFFICULT AT THE BEGINNING TO WEAN OURSELVES OFF FOREIGN DONORS, BUT IT IS ONLY BY THAT CONDITION THAT WE CAN LEARN TO MANAGE OUR OWN CHALLENGES, become creative AND GROW. IN FACT IT IS TIME FOR CHRISTIANITY OR ANY RELIGION IN GHANA AND AFRICA TO CHANGE THEIR MENTALITY. MANY OF OUR PASTORS HAVE TURN RELIGION TO ***barred word*** AND TO MAKE MOCKERY OF GOD. THEY DON'T PRAY TO ASK GOD TO GIVE THEM WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE TO MANAGE THEIR LIVES AND RESOURCES. INSTEAD THEY PRAY THAT GOD GIVEs THEM MANNA FROM HEAVEN, GIVE THEM MARRIAGE AND JOB, GIVE THEM VISA TO GO TO AMERICA and ELSEWHERE. UNFORTUNATELY MANY OF OUR GOOD FOR NOTHING PASTORS ENCOURAGE SUCH HABITS BY ASKING PEOPLE TO FAST AND PRAY FOR DAYS AND THE WHOLE NIGHTS FOR SUCH FRUITLESS ENDEAVOUR. THEY DONT HELP THEIR FOLLOWERS TO THINK AND USE THE BRAIN GOD HAS GIVEN TO THEM. THEY WASTE THEIR ENERGY AND PRECIOUS TIME IN VERY LONG PRAYERS AND WORSHIP. THE SAD THINGS ABOUT GHANAIANS IN AMERICA IS THAT THEY HAVE NOT LEARNT ANY GOOD HABITS FROM OTHERS THEY HAVE MET IN DIASPORA. IN AMERICA THEIR CHURCH SERVICE HARDLY GOES BEYOND AN HOUR. MANY AMERICANS ARE VERY DEVOUT CHRISTIANS AND THEY MANAGE TO DEVELOP A HEALTHY SPIRITUALITY WITHIN SUCH CULTURE. UNFORTUNATELY WHEN GHANAIANS COMMUNITIES CONSTITUTE A CHURCH IN AMERICA, CATHOLIC, METHODIST, PRESBY, YOU NAME IT, THEY SPEND THREE HOURS IN WORSHIP. YET, THEY ARE NOT BETTER IN ANYWAY THAN THEIR COUNTERPARTS WHO GO TO CHURCH AND SPEND AN HOUR IN WORSHIP. THE EVIL OF THIS HABITS IS PROMOTED BY THEIR LEADERS WHO ALWAYS MANIPULATE THEIR CHURCH MEMBERS WITH FEAR, SUSPICIONS AND UNREASONABLE HOPES FOR MIRACLES. IT IS TIME FOR AFRICA CHRISTIANITY TO MATURE TO ADDRESS THE REAL ISSUES IN AFRICA. TWO MAIN EVIL IN AFRICA ARE FIRST LACK OF MANAGEMENT OF LIFE AND RESOURCES AND SECOND INABILITY TO STOP WASTE AND CORRUPTION. HOW EFFECTIVE ARE YOU MANAGING YOUR LIVE AS A CHRISTIAN WHEN YOU ACHIEVE IN THREE HOURS WHAT SOMEBODY CAN ACHIEVE IN ONE HOUR. AFRICAN PASTORS ARE NOT SMART, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO LIVE IN DIASPORA. THEY ARE FAKE AND MANIPULATORS. I AM MAD AT THEM. THEY ARE NOT LEARNING TO TEACHING THEIR CONGREGATION ANYTHING GOOD. PLEASE FELLOW GHANAIANS AND AFRICANS WAKE UP AND GET RID OF SUCH WASTE EMANATING FROM PASTORS. GO TO CHURCH EVERY WEEK. BUT DONT SPENT THREE HOURS IN CHURCH. ONE OUR IS ENOUGH FOR GOD TO LISTEN TO YOU. GOD WILL HAVE NO MORE TIME FOR YOU IF YOU CANNOT MANAGE TO ENGAGE HIM FOR ONE HOUR. HE HAS SO MANY PEOPLE TO ATTEND TO AND SO MANY THINGS TO DO. DONT WASTE HIS TIME IF YOU DONT WANT TO USE THE BRAINS HE HAS GIVEN TO YOU.
THESE PASTORS SPEAK AS IF THEY ARE NOT MEN OF GOD. FIRST THEIR ARGUMENT DEFEAT THE CHRISTIAN PRINCIPLE THAT YOU MUST BE CONTENT WITH WHAT YOU HAVE.SECOND THEIR STAND DOES NOT ENCOURAGE AFRICANS TO BE GOOD STEWARDS, TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION THE AMOUNT OF RESOURCES GOD HAS GIVEN TO GHANA AND AFRICA. THIRD THEY REVEAL THEIR SELFISHNESS SINCE THEY DO NOT WANT TO SHARE THE BLESSINGS THEY THEMSELVES HAVE RECEIVED FROM GOD. IT WILL INTEREST THESE PASTORS TO KNOW THAT THEY ARE RICHER THAN MANY OF THEIR BENEFACTORS WHO DONATE TO THEM TO BE GIVEN TO THE POOR. UNFORTUNATELY MANY OF THE THINGS GIVEN OUT FOR THE POOR DO NOT RICH THE POOR. THEY ONLY PROMOTE THE CORRUPTION OF GOVERNMENTS AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT RECEIVE SUCH DONATIONS.
Aah, what is wrong with this dotard Osofo? You understand the president to be engaged in a "campaign to create a Ghana beyond aid" and you describe it as what? You are a disgrace to the ministry of Christ. Must we have a Ghana perpetually surviving on aid? Please if you want "cheap populist" attention, what your comments.
From our men in collars? Unbelievable! Is Reverend Opuni related to Dr Opuni of COCOABOD? How can a man of God tell such a blatant liee? We all heard Nana Addo's campaign messages and he never said Ghana does not need aid! He rather promised to take Ghana beyond aid when voted to power. And also Rev Dr. Bediako! You with a PHD and and living in America should know the tenets of good governance and get people right when they speak. The achievement of Nana in the 10 month period you are referring to is phenomenal and if the NDC had done 1/10th of it they would have been in power by now. Nana campaigned on common sensee, reduced the economic language to the level of the common man who appreciated and voted for him. We know that once a socialist, not a PHD or pulpit can change you. But for heaven's sake lets tell the truth and be free. We also know that Mahama corrupted the Christian Council almost beyond repairs. So you men and women of God should focus on rebuilding your lost image instead of worsening it by peddling liees.
We should accept aid and development assistance from the West but we will not be dependent on it. There is money in Ghana. It just finds its way into individuals' private bank accounts.
After 60 years of independence you still want to be tied to the aprons of your colonial masters? I'm sorry. Colonial mentality. Simpicita!
Never mind. These are people who are fed on other people's sweat and so all they could think of is aid. If we have Revs and Drs who speak this way then u can imagine how they put their congregation through. It is disappointing indeed.
Prez Akufo-Addo can have the nice and best plans for ghana. But when u listen to men of God who will preach all sort of sermons to encourage the Ghanaian will advice us that we should take a bowl and do and beg? Eiiiiiiii Osofo?
I am very disappointed that Dr. Opuni could speak this way. Nana Addo Has said that Ghana like Esau who had nothing left after Jacob had schemed to take away all the blessing, we could work hard to lift Ghana beyond aid. there is nothing wrong with this motivating statement from the president. I don't expect this from the man of God who uses this Jacob and Esau event to preach but think otherwise. everything is possible' and if we all work together Ghana would rather give aid to support our neighbors.