The Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Rt Rev Prof Emmanuel Martey, has said the Presby church will not hesitate to support the 2016 presidential nominee of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, to build Ghana, should he win this year’s polls.
“We will keep on praying for you, and for calling on the Presbyterian Church into partnership, we will partner you to build Ghana… Nana, I wish you well; your seriousness and experience. You have said you are a Christian, stay in your faith and you will be an overcomer,” Rev Prof Martey indicated.
His comments were in response to an appeal by Nana Akufo-Addo who, while addressing the 16th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church on Monday, 22 August, described the Presbyterian Church “as a progressive partner in the project of the self-confident and prosperous Ghana that my party seeks to build.”
According to Prof Martey, the Presbyterian Church is taking the appeals made by the NPP flag bearer for partnership seriously, especially as far as the five policy measures raised by Nana Akufo-Addo to eliminate corruption are concerned.
These five measures, as outlined by the NPP flag bearer, include providing the requisite leadership to tackle corruption; the scrupulous enforcement of the teachings of the Public Procurement Act (Act 663); the establishment by an Act of Parliament of an Office of Independent Prosecutor to investigate and prosecute certain categories of cases and allegations of corruption; the devotion of more resources to enhance the capacity of anti-corruption agencies; and supporting all moves to give Parliament greater oversight capability over the activities of the Executive.
“We are taking these seriously. For us, as a church, the Presbyterian Church is the oldest, existing church in this country. We will not sit down for newer churches and political parties to come and mess up our country,” he indicated.
The Presby Moderator further commended Nana Akufo-Addo “for your clean campaign, and your sense of political maturity and decency.”
Prof Martey said although he has “heard one or two people from the NPP” who have used indecent language but compared to other political parties, “you [NPP] are doing better.”
Often described as a controversial figure for his outspoken nature, Rev Prof Martey explained that “truth ought to be spoken, and the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, as a Bible believing and practising church, stands for the truth.” “It is only in a corrupt society that the truth becomes controversial. But we are not perturbed if we are described as controversial because we speak the truth. We will continue to speak the truth, and the truth is Jesus Himself.”
He continued: “Nana, we know the work that you and the NPP has done. The evidence is clear. From 2001 to 2009, we know what you did. From 2009 up till now, we also know what is happening. You have asked for our prayers. Your request is very selfless. You first said we should pray for peace and unity for Ghana, and then NPP before you asked for prayers for yourself. We will be with you in prayers.”
Source: Ghana/AccraFM.com
