We need the priests who resolve crises now

Recently, Pastor Mensah Otabil (Founder of the International Central Gospel Church), Reverend Professor Emmanuel Martey (the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana), and Bishop Charles Palmer Buckle (the Metropolitan Archbishop of Accra), attended a meeting convened by ex-President John Agyekum Kufuor, aimed at resolving the ‘crisis’ within the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

I may be wrong, but this is the first time I have heard that members of the clergy have participated in resolving any crisis in Ghana. There has been a number of crises in Ghana. The Yana was killed in broad daylight and up until now we have not been able to prosecute the culprits. There is still conflict in Nkonya. Some people were recently shot in Bimbilla in a long running conflict. There has been war upon war between the Nanumbas and Kokumbas.

If you take a war within parties, there has been an unlimited number of them. For instance, the PNC split from CPP in and acrimonious manner. Additionally, Nana Konadu not only quit the NDC, she is continuously undermining the unity of the party. There have also been fights during demonstrations between NPP and NDC supporters. Are all these not crises?

Now for time immemorial, we have had annual crises of doctors’ strikes, particularly when an NDC government is power. These have led to the death of many innocent citizens that sought their help. These doctors’ strikes have a boomerang effect because the moment they occur, nurses, pharmacists, lecturers and other professions who think they are equally important in the country, also make their voices heard with strikes.

We currently have a situation where doctors have threatened that unless they get what they want they are resigning en masse. Yet I have not heard from these great Christian leaders who are said to be very good in resolving crises.

When Kuffour’s meeting with them was questioned, the spokesman for the Ex-President, George Aggyekum said “the choice of these heads of the Christian denominations was based on the fact that most of the members of the party hierarchy involved in these ‘peace moves’ belong to the churches headed by them.” Granted! But now the life of every citizen is impacted, including the members of not only their denominations but also their entire religion and country. Yet, we have not heard from them.

What is going with these great men of God? The country is in crisis and this is the time we need them. Is their silence because they have not been invited? Do they need an invitation to resolve a crisis that will save lives?

While we are at it, where is the Christian Council and the Catholic Bishops Conference? Where are the Muslims? Do they also need letters of invitation? I don’t remember anyone sending these men of God any invitation before they wrote the numerous pastoral letters to Rawlings and other Non-NPP governments.

I hope they are not going to let their inaction in this crisis solidify our suspicion of their political biases. If they can help to resolve the internal crisis of NPP, they can at least initiate an action to resolve a serious crisis facing the country. They don’t need to wait for a “calling” or inspiration from the Holy Ghost. As pastors, it is their reaction to this type of situation that lends calling them “Men of God” and “Brothers in Christ”, because “Men of God” are peace makers and comforters of souls.

Please, Pastor Otabil, Rev Prof Martey, and Bishop Palmer Buckle, we need your presence now. Don’t wait until people die unnecessary.
“Isreal a, Ododow”.

Kwame Yeboah
gyeboah@harding.edu