President Nana Akufo-Addo has called on the clergy to exercise restraint regarding prophecies about the outcomes of the December 7 elections, encouraging respect and caution throughout the electoral period.
He urged religious leaders to guide their congregations in promoting peace and stability during this crucial time.
In remarks delivered on his behalf by Stephen Asamoah Boateng, Minister of Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, at the “Agent of Peace” campaign organized by the Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council (GPCC) on Sunday, November 3, 2024, the president highlighted the importance of decorum.
He emphasized the role of the clergy in fostering a respectful and unifying environment as the country heads toward the elections.
President Akufo-Addo also cautioned political parties and religious figures against using divisive language or making premature declarations of victory.
He underscored the need for unity and warned against any rhetoric that could heighten tensions, reminding leaders of their influence on the nation’s stability. Acknowledging Ghana’s achievements as a model of democracy, he called for respectful political discourse and urged all stakeholders to avoid language that could mislead voters or incite division.
“Indeed, democracy requires more than elections, but the country cannot be democratic without holding genuine elections to elect its leaders. Elections are the basis for democratic legitimacy and are a mechanism to peacefully resolve the transfer of political power,” he stated.
“We in Ghana have grown and must learn the lessons of having peaceful elections. We must avoid the use of provocative and abusive language in our campaigning. Let us respect the electorate and not assume that one political party has already won the election when a single ballot is yet to be cast.”
“I call on all our revered members of the clergy to also put a check on those of their members who are going around prophesying winners of an election that is yet to be held,” he added.
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