By Celestine Avi
President John Dramani Mahama has reaffirmed the critical role of the church in shaping Ghana’s moral fabric, countering claims that rising crime and immorality signal a failure of faith. Addressing the clergy at the “Mahama Fellowships with the Clergy” event in the Ashanti Region, he urged Christian leaders to strengthen unity, expand their outreach, and work collectively for both spiritual and national development.
“There’s an often-heard argument that while more than 90 percent of Ghanaians profess to be persons of faith, immorality and crime are on the rise,” Mahama stated. “And my answer to those who make that argument is simple—the situation would probably have been worse if there were no churches. Imagine if there were no churches and people could do whatever they wanted. The situation would have been far worse.”
He called on religious leaders to foster collaboration rather than competition, emphasizing that the Christian mission requires more labourers, not rivals.
“As churches and Christians, we share the same faith. We are not in competition with each other,” he declared. “After all, in Matthew 9:37, it tells us, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few.’ So let’s pray to the Lord of the harvest to send more labourers. We need even more churches. We need more men of God.”
President Mahama cautioned against division within the Christian community, warning that envy and arrogance weaken the church’s influence in society.
“We are all workers in the Lord’s vineyard, and there’s a lot for all of us to harvest. So we must eschew every sense of competition, envy, and arrogance,” he urged. “A divided church weakens its impact, but a united church can transform society.”
Beyond the spiritual role of the church, President Mahama called for collective efforts to advance Ghana’s physical and economic development. He encouraged Christian leaders to advocate for policies that improve citizens’ well-being and contribute meaningfully to national progress.
“Let us work together to build a vibrant and influential Christian community that speaks with one voice on issues of national development,” he concluded. “Beyond the spiritual, we must also focus on the physical and economic development of our country and our region.”
The “Mahama Fellowships with the Clergy” event underscored his administration’s recognition of the church’s role in shaping society and fostering national unity. His message resonated with religious leaders, many of whom pledged to deepen collaboration and extend their outreach to underserved areas.
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