Former Moderator of the Presbyterian Church calls for ceasefire

Rt Rev Dr Yaw Frimpong Manso

A former Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Rt Rev Dr Yaw Frimpong Manso has expressed grave worry about the growing rift between the church and ruling NDC, warning that it has the potential to affect national development.

In his quest to heal the rift, Rt Rev Frimpong Manso has therefore called on the Public Relations Officer of the Church, who recently made a number of unsavoury remarks about some officials of the ruling party, and NDC leaders including General Secretary Johnson Asiedu Nketiah to sort out their differences for the greater good of the nation.

Mr Asiedu Nketia reportedly attacked the person of the Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana and accused the church of doing the bidding of the opposition after the Church issued a communiqué calling on the Electoral Commission to suspend the proposed creation of 45 new constituencies ahead of the December poll because it was too close to the elections and could therefore create chaos.

He also accused the church of being pro-NPP and only finding its voice to comment negatively on national issues when the NDC is in power.

Responding, Emmanuel Osei Akyeampong said on Asempa FM last Saturday that Asiedu Nketiah was most likely drunk when he made those comments about the Moderator and the Presbyterian Church.

Incidentally, Mr Asiedu Nketiah is a member of the Hope Congregation of the Presby Church at Sakumono.

“We don’t know whether Mr Asiedu Nketia was drunk before he went on air, but we think that what he said was highly irresponsible,” he told show host Kwadwo Asare Baffour Acheampong aka KABA.

“He (Asiedu Nketiah) is gradually becoming a political liability more than an asset to this country and we expect him to come out openly to apologise to the leadership of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana.

“We are a responsible institution; what the Moderator said is the position of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana. Asiedu Nketia is highly irresponsible…You cannot insult the leadership of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana and expect that you enter into our churches to campaign and sell your message.

“We think that he should be brought to order together with Allottey Jacobs and all other leading political parties from both NPP and NDC and all other political parties, who think they are in political positions they can just insult anybody.”

However, speaking on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem morning show on Monday September 10, Rt Rev Frimpong Manso expressed surprise at his former PRO’s outburst, describing him as a “humble and respectful man” who was most likely provoked beyond measure.

Nevertheless, he called on officials of both institutions to rise above their differences and “find a way to apologise.”

“To say the church should take its bible and the state its laws would be wrong, especially because of the role religious bodies including the Presbyterian Church have played in national development. This could lead to conflict between the church and state.

“I know Asiedu Nketiah is a Presbyterian, he could have spoken with the Moderator and asked for clarification.”

Rt Rev Frimpong Manso said political tension is growing ahead of the December 7 poll, and it was therefore important that people in leadership positions guard against inflammatory or insulting talk, including tagging them with political colours.

“In these times political leaders will move into the church to seek votes, which is their right. It is very unfortunate that some people believe the Presby Church is pro-NPP. Our colours include colours of both NDC and NPP. The church is non-partisan. The Presby church was formed long before the formation of both NDC and NPP,” he pointed out.

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