The Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church Ghana, Most Rev. Dr Paul Kwabena Boafo, has urged stakeholders in the December 2024 general election process to remain fair and neutral.
He particularly mentioned the Electoral Commission (EC) and security agencies to work towards gaining the trust of the people. The EC, he said, must be manifestly seen to be a fair and neutral umpire in all the processes leading to, during and after the elections.
For the security agencies, he charged them to be professional and impartial judges to engender trust before, during and after the elections. Most Rev. Dr Boafo gave the advise at a press conference to deliver the church’s Easter message to Ghanaians in Accra last Wednesday.
Decent campaign
The Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church further urged the political parties and independent candidates to avoid intemperate, abusive and offensive language in their campaigns.
He also charged the media, which he described as having a significant role to play in the elections, not to engage in sensational reportage and also not use their various platforms to cause disaffection for political opponents, a situation which would not promote peace ahead of the election.
“In the spirit of peace, the electorate should understand that there is only one Ghana, and that elections are meant to choose leaders. It must not become an avenue for conflict and bloodshed; rather, comportment and civility must be the guiding principles in our support and campaign,’ he said.
Extreme partisanship
In his message, which was titled, “the empty tomb — a call to life, renewal and peace,” Most Rev. Dr Boafo stressed the need for Ghanaians to reflect on the extreme partisanship that had resulted in the polarisation of the country, pointing out that as the country approached the general election in December 2024, all must resolve to eschew tendencies that could compromise the peace of the country before, during and after the elections.
He said a look around the world today depicted more gloom, adding that the world seemed to be surrounded by death as was evident in the thousands of people dying in wars, millions dying of starvation and hunger, hundreds of migrants drowning in seas and many more dying daily in the conflicts of ethnic, racial and gender-based violence.
Unfortunately, he said, the world had become accustomed to violence and death, adding that the risen Christ entered situations and brought healing, life, renewal and peace.
“Easter is about Jesus standing among us in our dire situations in every place. The message is clear that with the resurrection of Jesus, death and all that threaten us are conquered,” he said.
