Ahead of the 2024 electioneering campaign season, Ghanaians and politicians have been admonished by the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference to refrain from capitalizing on religion for political gains.
The Bishops’ Conference condemned what it indicated as attempts “to introduce and inflame religious passion in political discourse and activities” in Ghana.
As contained in a communiqué issued by the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference at the end of its annual plenary assembly held in Sunyani in the Bono Region from November 6 -18, 2023, the Conference is also urging people to respect the fact that Ghana is a secular state and put the country first in their political campaigns to protect and preserve the peace and unity we have.
“We observe with growing concern attempts to introduce and inflame religious passion in political discourse and activities. Ghana as a nation is a secular state recognizing the right of all persons to practise any religion and to freely form or belong to any political party of their choice, irrespective of their religious affiliation. We, however, urge all Ghanaians to respect this prescription of our Constitution and avoid any attempt to engage in a “politics of religion”. In this light, we advise all Ghanaians to put Ghana first in their political campaigns so as to preserve the peace and unity of our motherland.”
The National Peace Council (NPC) in a similar form on November 15, 2023, also cautioned Ghanaians to desist from inflaming religious passion ahead of the 2024 general elections.
Days after the NPP flagbearer-ship race, Dr. Bawumia posted on his Facebook wall picture of clergymen in Ashanti who visited to congratulate him, with the caption: “Today two separate groups of clergymen from the Ashanti Region and Anglican Diocese of Accra respectively visited me at home and the Jubilee House to congratulate me as the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party. I truly appreciate this gestures and this will further deepen my long-standing close relationship with the church and deepen religious tolerance in Ghana.”
Media reports also indicate that some Imams and leaders from the Muslim community have also called on Dr. Bawumia to congratulate him on his election as flagbearer.
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