Consider National interest first - Christian Council urges JAK & JJ

Accra, Oct. 9, GNA - The Christian Council of Ghana on Thursday urged President John Agyekum Kufuor and Former President Jerry John Rawlings to spare the nation the political tremor, fear and agony that their differences create daily among the populace.

"The political antagonism between the two stalwarts have the potential of degenerating into anarchy and possibly destabilize the nation," the Reverend Doctor Fred Deegbe, General Secretary of the Christian Council told the Ghana News Agency in an interview in Accra. Rev. Deegbe who spoke to the GNA after an interactive meeting with some leaders of the Grand Coalition made up of PNC, GCPP and EGLE, urged the two statesmen to consider the impact of their continuous strained relationship both locally and internationally.

He stressed that the national interest should overshadow any personal or political agenda.

The General Secretary also appealed to their close confidant, political advisers and sympathizers to create conducive environment for dialogue.

"All of us must create the enabling environment for harmonious interpersonal and political relationship across the political, religious, ethnic and geographical spectrum."

Rev Deegbe also appealed to the media, socio-political commentators, and the numerous phone-in contributors to radio discussions to be circumspect, and respect the office of both President Kufuor and former President Rawlings.

Speaking to the leadership of the Grand Coalition earlier, Rev. Deegbe urged parties to demonstrate political maturity, tolerance and patriotism for accelerated national development. Rev. Deegbe reminded politicians that partisan politicking is not propagandist antagonism.

Mr. Dan Lartey, Chairman of the Grand Coalition appealed to political parties to tolerate opposing views, avoid vindictiveness and divisive tendencies.

He said the purpose of the Grand Coalition was to offer Ghanaians realistic alternative policy to replace the harsh economic policies of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) government and the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

He said, "we have witnessed bad governance under both the NDC and NPP, but what we are yet to experience in recent times is the magic wand of Nkrumaism that liberated and transformed the lives of Ghanaians in the past."

Mr. Lartey, also appealed to the Christian Council, the Catholic Secretariat and other religious organizations as well as traditional authorities to harmonise the nation.