The General Superintendent of the Assemblies of God Church, Rev. Dr. Stephen Wengam, has called on law enforcement authorities to take decisive action against individuals involved in looting and vandalism following the 2024 general elections.
This appeal follows reports of destruction and theft allegedly perpetrated by some supporters of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) in various parts of the country.
These post-election disturbances have sparked widespread concern about the growing culture of impunity in Ghana.
Speaking during a media engagement in Accra on Sunday, Rev. Dr. Wengam emphasized the need to uphold the rule of law and hold offenders accountable to prevent similar incidents in the future.
“After every major milestone like this, we hope that stakeholders—the political parties and the Electoral Commission—will reflect on the positives and negatives and address them promptly. We should not wait until the next four years to resolve issues,” he stated.
Condemning the acts of looting and vandalism, Rev. Dr. Wengam added, “I join well-meaning Ghanaians to condemn this.
The law must take its course. Whoever is found culpable, irrespective of political affiliation, must face justice. This will serve as a deterrent. Unfortunately, we often make noise about these incidents and then shelve them, which has allowed a culture of impunity to take root in this country. I commend Ghanaians, however, for the peaceful elections we have witnessed.”
Israeli Ambassador to Ghana Attends Hanukkah Celebration
On the same day, Israeli Ambassador to Ghana, Roey Gilad, participated in a Hanukkah celebration at the Cedar Mountain Chapel in Accra. In a media interview, Ambassador Gilad expressed Israel’s readiness to deepen bilateral relations with Ghana’s incoming John Mahama-led administration, which is set to assume office on January 7, 2025.
Highlighting the importance of Ghana’s support on international platforms, Ambassador Gilad said, “I always tell leaders of both the outgoing and incoming administrations that I hope Ghana will consider the sentiments of its people when voting at international forums, not just the positions of the African Union in Addis Ababa.”
Call to Sustain “Beyond the Return” Initiative
Deputy Minister of Finance for Namibia, Maureen Hinda-Mbuende, also attended the church service and underscored the importance of initiatives like “Beyond the Return.”
She linked the initiative to the commemoration of the eighth anniversary of granting Ghanaian citizenship to 34 Africans in the diaspora in 2016, which birthed the Year of Return concept.
“The gathering focused on looking beyond the right of return. It is significant that President Mahama is returning to office to advance this initiative. Africans in the diaspora need a reconnection to Africa,” she stated.
Hinda-Mbuende praised Ghana for its leadership role, saying, “Ghana, as the home of Pan-Africanism under Kwame Nkrumah, is the rightful place to lead this movement. I encourage other African nations to follow Ghana’s example and open their doors to our brothers and sisters in the diaspora.”
ALSO READ: