Man of God to sue maligning journalists

Accra, Aug. 30, GNA- The Rt. Rev. Dr. George Slezer Ofori-Atta, Presiding Archbishop of the International Council for Clergy (ICC) has threatened to sue journalists who deliberately malign Christian clerics.

Speaking to the Ghana News Agency in Accra, he said some journalists were using misleading stories and headlines to incite the public against the clergy.

"Instead of cross-checking their facts, which is in line with the ethics of their profession, these journalists are rather undermining public confidence in the clergy," he noted.

"Journalists must put their stories in the right context and should stop using the clergy to do business."

Rt. Rev. Ofori-Atta also asked journalists not to arrogate to themselves the role to interpret the Bible to the public.

He noted that there were men of God who had Philosophy degrees in Theology and could offer their expertise to any journalist who sought to know any aspect of the Bible.

"No man of God can tell Journalists what journalism is about. In the same vein journalists should be humble enough to approach people who know the Bible better in the course of their work," he said.

ICC, which is an affiliate of the US-based Council of Black Clergy, International Ministerial Independent and Word Council of Independent Christian Churches and Independent Assemblies of God International, had just concluded a three-day international conference in Accra.

The conference on the theme: "Make a Positive Impact," attracted over 700 participants from Ghana, the US, United Kingdom, Sierra Leone, Togo, Liberia and South Africa.

Rt. Rev. Ofori-Atta said the participants were exposed to topics such as: "Spiritual and Physical Lifestyles of Leaders," "Making a Good Home," "The Essence of Prayer," and "Church Administration and Leadership."

Bishop Asikaben-Brobbey, Vice President of the ICC expressed dissatisfaction about the connivance of some Christians with members of the public to frustrate efforts at establishing churches in some communities under the pretext that such projects led to excessive noise making.

He said the control of noise was the preserve of the city authorities and it was wrong for people to put impediments in efforts by Christians to spread the gospel of Christ.