The smearing of the clergy in Ghana by politicians is wrong, given that the role of the church is crucial for good governance and development of the country, General Secretary of the Christian Council of Ghana Rev Dr Opuni Frimpong has said.
He held the opinion that attacks on the clergy by politicians were not new, as history was replete with examples of men of the cloth being abused by political figures for comments deemed unfavourable to them.
“The church has made significant contributions and depending on what they say, where and who is involved, they (the clergy) get all manner of attacks. Today it’s NDC; tomorrow it may be the NPP. When NPP was in power, they attacked the churches,” he explained.
He urged politicians not to interpret praise or criticism of any politician by a priest as affiliation to any political organisation since the church works with every government regardless of party colour.
Rev Frimpong said these in an interview with Accra-based Joy FM on Wednesday August 31.
His comments come in the wake of the revelation by outgoing Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Prof Emmanuel Martey, a critic of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC), that a political party he refused to name tried bribing him with $100,000 so he would stop being critical of it.
This was contained in his last address to the media on Tuesday, August 30. He said: “The same party brought $100,000 [to bribe me]. They were lucky I did not have dogs.
“You cannot get me with corruption,” adding: “Never ever should any politician or political activist go to a pastor or minister with money in order to influence him; if you do that you’ll be in trouble.”
However, speaking to Accra-based Kasapa FM, Dr Osei Acheampong, a former Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the church has indicated that contrary to the claims, the Prof Martey accepted the $100,000 and 4×4 vehicle.
This has prompted Deputy General Secretary of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Koku Anyidoho to state that Prof Martey been exposed as a bribe taker contrary to his claim of “righteousness” and “piety” and the onus now lies on him to prove his accuser wrong and clear his name.
Source: Ghana/AccraFM.com
