The new Methodist Bishop of Accra, the Right Reverend Titus Awotwi-Pratt, might have stirred up some controversy with his comments about corruption within the nation.
Last Friday, the Times published a report of the Bishop asserting that the uprooting of corruption and social vices from the country must begin from the church.
He unequivocally stated that if the church in general could claim any moral right to challenge anti-social vices, mal-governance and corruption in the Ghanaian society, then it should be mindful of the fact that charity begins at home.
It is a fact that corruption is a major challenge to our national development, as it permeates all aspects of our socio-political life.
Often, however, we tend to point accusing fingers at the politicians, especially those in government, the police, judiciary, parliamentarians and, to a lesser degree, the media.
Very little is said about the church, in particular the clergy, as they are accorded eminence and considered God’s representatives on earth.
How can one accuse those who are the oracles of the Almighty, of such human frailties?
It comes as a surprise, therefore, that one of their own should open the doors for scrutiny of the goings-on in the church.
The Bishop’s statement is an honest acknowledgement that the beloved Men of God are, afterall, human and, therefore, could succumb to temptation, just like the rest of us.
Most Christians would, indeed, attest to the fact that the church today, is not the true reflection of what existed in the time of the Apostles. We are now in an era when many of our religious leaders live in opulence and openly flaunt it, claiming it is testimony of God’s goodness to their lives.
There is hardly any probity or accountability in most of the churches, as church offerings and tithes are appropriated for the personal use of the leaders. Indeed, there is no disputing the fact that most of the new crop of church leaders entered the field for their personal aggrandisement.
The Times believes that our religious leaders should live above reproach, and be good examples for the flock to follow.
We fully support Bishop Awotwi-Pratt’s exhortation that the church must develop and maintain a sense of dignity and self-respect, as well as cultivate the spirit of efficient Christian life formation so as to infuse sanity into the society.
It is our hope that our Men of God will take a cue from this statement, and be good stewards. For it is only then, that they can have the courage to point out the wrongs in the society.
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