Kufuor's "Fatwa": Righteousness or Sin?

The release of the news termed ‘bombshell at Kumasi’ by the Chronicle has caused a widespread public excitment recently, with the peak of the issue yet to come (likely). The president of the NPP and the country is said to have held a secret meeting with the Ashanti regional delegates of the party in Kumasi, where he is said to have warned them sternly not to vote for any of the presidential aspirants of the party who has been relieved of their post as a minister of state. This is said because, says the president, those were not patriotic, but selfish with their held posts.

Section of the party affiliates has come out willingly or otherwise to denounce the move. Others who are more lenient has rubbished the report or at least wished the whole thing never happened. However, there is a third very barely-heard minority, who sees nothing wrong with what the president has done. Ladies and Gentle, at this point, I would like us to soberly reflect on this supposedly ‘Fatwa’ from the president, that is to say if really he did decree it.

The Fatwa: Act of Righteousness or Evil?

I really I’m not very conversant with how much we, the good people of Ghana, have been influenced by the global canker of the ‘Leaven of the Pharisees and the Herodians’, where the devil and his advocates are busy redefining ‘Righteousness’, where Humanism is fast replacing theo-centricism – the will of man wiping away the ordinances of God; where sin in man is not to be mentioned for the sake of making everyone feel good,; where, for instance, homosexuality must be accepted in the name of non-discrimination; where the child is to dictate to the parents for the sake of upholding human (child) rights; where a fornicating Princess is deemed a saint for the sake of charity; where homosexual-promoting Arch-bishop is Nobel-prized for the sake of humanism; and where a sitting president is stinkingly bad-mouthed for the sake of unruly freedom. Ladies and Gentlemen, Ghanaians must learn to cut the crap out of blind- globally-accepted-democracy, and learn to pursue godly democracy, where judgment is made on the basis of righteousness and evil, as entrenched in the word of God, where freedom and rights come with responsibility. Don’t let us just seek world approval, but pursue what is good for our unique nation; or else, we would be competing with Hell!!!

As far as I’m concerned, this godly act of the president should have been easily recognized as such, had it not been for the fact that the Ghanaian mind is drifting beyond sane democracy to that of ‘everything goes democracy’ as has happened to many societies around the world. Reading more than necessary into the meaning of democracy would turn a society into a state of anarchy instead of the peace and order that the institution is expected to bring.

What Did the President Do?

The president, if really he did what is alleged, was in the quest of saving the country. This, even a child, must understand without explaining. All that the president did was to save the nation from selfish people – people who see themselves first in public offices before they take a glimpse at the nation, self-ambitious persons!!!. This is an exemplary leadership, good people of Ghana!!! We must give thanks and praises to God for the kind of person we have for president (though not perfect; and who is?). He risked his personal friendship and the favors of his colleagues for the wider national interest.

Persons and Parties vs. the Nation

Some one might quip: ‘what about the rights of the persons affected and the unity of the party’? Ladies and Gentlemen, at this point, we must acknowledge that there is only one constant in our beloved nation, that is God, the rest of them, be it personalities or parties, there are all around for the common good of the nation, but not for themselves. The national interest is beyond everybody and every organization.

What about our Democracy?

Are we concerned about our democracy? Yes! Therefore, why should the president behave this way – isn’t he being autocratic? In answering these concerns, brothers and sisters, let us examine some few pertinent tenets of democracy in view of the president’s action. First of all, it goes without saying that democracy is for the common good of all, not for few selected individuals or organizations. Did the president seek the common good of the people over persons and parties? ‘Absolutely yes’. Does he have the democratic right with regard to his action? Yes, the president in his three capacities, as a patriotic citizen, the president of the NPP, and that of the nation acted democratically. Remember democracy is about lobbying for the acceptance and implementation of one’s ideas and convictions; and what has been termed a Fatwa was or is not, in fact, technically a Fatwa (decree) by any law or convention. It was just an advice from Mr. Kufuor, and the presidents. But for the sake of decorum and political expediency, he could have rightly proclaimed what he said to the delegates from the podium to the entire nation without contravention of any law whatsoever. The word of God says that the one who is not faithful with the little would not be entrusted with more, but even would loss the little he has (Matthew 25:14-29).

Declare It A National Fatwa!!!

This is to you, Mr. President. I say declare your ‘advisory’ a national Fatwa, not just a party one. Now you stand on the ‘threshold of righteousness and evil’, declare your stand! You are almost through with the battle, winning on the right hand side of righteousness (God, the Lord of Host), but victory is not yours until you have followed through with the final kill, like a good and wise gladiator. I bet you, if you turn around, and do not finish your enemy (evil) off, he would do you off by hitting you hard in the back. Come on, go Kufuor! There is no turning back, it is out, the battle has already been declared, they are coming after you, but you have the final victory blow, used it, come open, do hid no more, declare it national Fatwa, for the Lord of Host is with you! And trust God, for I promise, as a man of God, the whole nation will be behind you, if you would come out. Remember, you owe this to God, and the good people of Ghana, and again your ancestry, they looked to the good of the nation, don’t chicken out boy, your are too big a giant to be coward, don’t be a Rehoboam, whose folly and timidity destroyed the nation of Israel, established by the blood and sweat and wisdom of his fathers, David and Solomon. Trust God again, the NPP would still stand; you would only be God’s instrument in weeding out the tares. However, say, if the NPP should crash out because of this righteous act of yours, then it would have not be worthy of standing in the first place, because if would meant that it was full of selfish and corrupt people, but it is not so! Therefore, fear not; and remember, non but God and the nation is constant in the equation. You would be setting a precedent for all public officers of all parties and the nation to follow. This is the opportunity to practice what you preach, Mr. President, ‘Zero Tolerance on Corruption’, remember. A word of wisdom is near your ear, not in far in the North, heed, my President!

Conclusion

In vein of the above, the nation, including all political parties, religious persons and bodies, must unanimously and unreservedly, come out and applaud the president, for giving such an advice. This is a matter of righteousness and evil; and praise God, even in the face of adversity, the president chose to stand on the side of good. This is a very good opportunity for the opposition to come out and show Ghanaians what they are really made of – whether they know evil from righteousness; and if so, which side they stand; after they have broken our heart with the boycott of parliament, just because righteousness and the rule of law are prevailing. May God bless the president and the good people of Ghana. Amen!