THE METHODIST Bishop of the Obuasi Diocese, Rt. Rev. Stephen Richard Bosomtwi-Ayensu, has said that the violent conducts and chaos at some registration centres across the country threatened the survival of the Ghanaian people.

According to him, the unpleasant and ugly incidents were really heart-breaking and must be arrested immediately by prayer and fasting.

Speaking at the opening of the 15th Annual Diocesan Synod of the Obuasi Methodist Diocese, the man of God made a clarion call to Christians in the country to wake up and hold on tight to their “prayer machinery” to rescue the nation from chaos and destruction before, during and after the elections.

Rt. Rev. Bosomtwi-Ayensu observed that the recent media reports about some macho-men parading in Kumasi and causing destruction to registration gadgets and materials, as well as unleashing violent attacks on innocent citizens, were worrisome.

“With these instances, two quick questions come to mind. Are we safe, and what would the day of election be?” he asked rhetorically, and continued that such behaviours would make the work of the peace council very difficult.

“For our brethren in the security services, be steadfast, hold fast to your integrity; earnest prayers are being fired from all angles to keep you going,” the reverend minister stated.

In his view, God had already chosen the man He wanted to lead Ghana after the 2012 elections, buttressing his point with a biblical verse; “What I have written, I have written.”

“Everybody wishes his/her favourite to become the next president, this is normal. But do not forget that God is part of the selection, if not the ultimate decider,” the Methodist Bishop submitted.

According to Rev. Bosomtwi-Ayensu, no amount of intimidation, insults and threats would make the Lord change His mind about who He had approved for the ‘throne’.

He called on President John Evans Atta Mills to reject the accolade ‘Asomdweehene’ (Prince of Peace) as it was the title of God, explaining that its usage would only ruin him since it was tantamount to blasphemous behaviour.

“Can fellow Ghanaians agree to stop calling the President Asomdweehene, because by calling him as such, we do him disservice and more seriously invite the wrath of God upon him,” he noted.

Quoting from Isaiah 42:8 and 48:11 to express his fears, the reverend minister said, “God does not share His glory with Mr. Nobody,” adding that those who called President Atta Mills the ‘Prince of Peace’ were only seeking his downfall and doom.

“We should not forget so soon what happened to Muammar Gaddafi, who pursued the title ‘King of Kings’,” Bishop Bosomtwi-Ayensu reminded the praise-singers of Prof. Mills.

The man of God also used the occasion, which was held under the theme ‘The law of sowing and reaping has never been repealed,’ to reprimand church members about the low commitment of leadership in the Diocese.

The bishop noted that grassroots leadership in the church had lost its savoury, thus giving way to the same old fashion of organizing activities and programmes which yielded no returns.

He noted that meetings and seminars at the society and circuit levels were poorly attended by the leaders, but the same leaders rushed to Diocesan and connectional meetings, where they represented these societies and circuits they neglected, he observed.