‘Join Clean Election Campaign’

Story: Matilda Attram

THE Methodist Church of Ghana has called on individuals, organisations and churches to join its campaign, dubbed “Clean Election Campaign” aimed at inculcating in the youth the essence of clean, free and fair elections.
The call was contained in a communiqué issued by the church at the end of its fifth biennial and 43rd conference held in Winneba and made public during a news conference in Accra.
The Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church, Reverend Dr Robert Kwesi Aboagye Mensah, who read the communiqué, said the previous conference discussed issues of concern to the church, and also realised the need to address issues affecting the development of the nation.
“Having discussed issues affecting the church, the conference engaged in topical issues affecting the state, in relation to citizenry and said that every effort should be made by the government and people of Ghana to ensure a free, fair and transparent elections devoid of rancour and bitterness on the part of participating political parties”, the communiqué said.
It said the conference expressed the need to educate the electorate, especially the youth, to ensure free and credible elections during the December polls.
The communiqué also stated that the church welcomed the oil find in the country and appealed to the government to exploit and develop the resource in order to boost the country’s economy.
It expressed its gratitude for the discovery of oil in this country. “We, therefore, hope that the government would be determined in making good use of the oil find to benefit the country”, it added.
It articulated the church’s concern for the problems of HIV/AIDS, drug abuse and streetism which were hindering the development of the country. “Conference appeals to the government, NGOs and organisations involved in managing the said evils in society to double efforts in providing answers that appropriately resolve the problems”, it said.
The discussions also conveyed the church’s total support for the government in its decision to encourage the study of Religious and Moral Education as a subject in the syllabus of primary and junior high schools (JHS).
“Conference appreciates the change of the government’s heart and prayed for the faithful implementation of the new policy, and provision of the reinstatement. We pledge to partner the government in the implementation of the said policy by strengthening its chaplaincy in schools”, it said.
The communiqué appealed to the public to support the church’s orphanage, the Rafiki Satellite Village, through the provision of funds and materials for the project.
It, therefore, pleaded with the government to assist in the rehabilitation of the existing Methodist institutions to reduce the incidence of youth unemployment by providing avenues for training in trades to support and complement formal academic education offered the youth in schools.