Rev Martey condemns commercialisation of churches

Chairman of the Christian Council of Ghana, Right Reverend Professor Emmanuel Martey has decried unrestrained desire of people using churches as money-making ventures in blatant disregard to propagation of the true and core Christian values.

The craving of church leaders to live in riches and drive flashy cars, he noted, is largely driven by greed, self-aggrandisement and unrestricted desire to get money quick leading to factionalism and twisting of the factual message of the Bible.

Speaking to the Ghana News Agency on the side-lines of the inauguration of “Urgent Call to Repentance” message on Tuesday Rev Martey, said some people are gifted with eloquence and so exploit that power of fluency to falsify the message of the Bible.

He said the act is badly damaging the church and the foundation holding the society together, and called for deep introspection and sincere change of mind to move Ghana to the desired destination for the next generation.

“Today, when you preach and it’s against fornication, adultery, robbery, corruption or bribery, stealing or any social vices you can think of, some people quit the church.”

Allegation of corruption has hit hard the country’s judiciary, sparking public uproar and drawing high-flying personalities including former presidents Jerry John Rawlings and John Agyekum Kufuor to express worry about its impact on the society.

The “Urgent call to repentance” message was envisioned by an 86-year old lady, Madam Regina Eva Addae, and directed to champion a crusade for personal, church and nation repentance in order to have a revived and restored life for the next generation.

Madam Addae expressed the belief that socio- economic challenges facing the country is an indication that Ghana had sinned dreadfully, had lost a generation and is about to lose another.