By: Antoinette Abbah
The Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Rt Rev Dr Abraham Kwakye, has called on Ghanaians to blindly stop defending politicians who misuse public funds. He said the situation where they often rally in protest when corrupt politicians are arrested, must be condemned.
Rt Rev Dr Kwakye said this at the Investiture of the third Rector of Akrofi-Christaller Institute of Theology, Mission and Culture, Rev Prof Philip Laryea in Accra.
The Akrofi-Christaller Institute of Theology, Mission and Culture is a post graduate research and training institute dedicated to the study and documentation of Christian history, thought and life in Ghana and Africa as a whole. It was named after two past great scholars of Twi language and pioneer figures in cultural witness of the church in Ghana, Clement Anderson Akrofi and Johannes Gottlieb Christaller. Rev Prof Philip Tetteh Laryea joined the Akrofi- Christaller Institute in 1997.
Rt Rev Dr Abraham Kwakye said despite years of education, many still live unenlightened lives, often rallying in protest when corrupt politicians are arrested, especially when they the citizens do not even are benefit from the politicians. “We live in a country where people are involved in various levels of corruption, and yet, the strange thing about Ghanaians—something I sometimes find puzzling—is that we only seem concerned about corruption if the people involved are from the opposing party. When we are in opposition, we clearly see the corruption within the ruling government. What truly baffles me is how ordinary Ghanaians, who gain nothing from the corruption of those in high places, will march to the police station to rescue corrupt individuals caught by the police, defending them despite not benefiting in any way. I sometimes wonder—there must be something wrong, something deeply wrong, with us, “he said.
The newly inducted Rector of the Akrofi-Christaller Institute, Rev Prof Philip Tetteh Laryea pledged to lead the Institute to greater heights. He also urged politicians in the upcoming December elections to conduct their campaigns with decorum, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding Ghana’s democracy. “
“We’ve come a very long way since 1992, and we cannot afford to go back. Those of us who are leaders in various institutions in private organisations want to plead with them to hold the peace and we also pray for citizenry to Keep the peace. If politicians come telling them all sorts of stories. they should be able to judge in between the lines. We need to be politically literate by now, since 1992 and to make our own minds without necessarily running into battles wim each other. It is just one country”, Rev Prof Laryea cautioned.
Rev Prof Laryea was presented with instrument of office that is a statute, mace and a bible. There were fraternal messages from the Trinity Theological Seminary, Church of Pentecost and Nkrumah University of Science and Technology.
