Most Rev. Prof Emmanuel Asante
A Christian grouping has demanded the immediate withdrawal of the political advertisement which uses remarks of Pastor Mensa Otabil and an immediate cessation of the insults being heaped on the cleric.
“We call on the ‘Education Watch’ and all other sponsoring agencies and media houses to withdraw all forms of political adverts with Pastor Otabil’s voice with immediate effect,” the clerics demanded and reminded Ghanaians about the important role the Church and religious institutions played in societal cohesion.
It is a display of solidarity with a colleague by clerics who have either suffered one form of political attack or the other, or just feeling uncomfortable by the many tirades being launched against their colleague from a section of the political community.
The Christian Ministers and Leaders in Ghana are supporting Pastor Mensa Otabil, General Overseer of the International Central Gospel Church’s disapproval of the use of his voice in a politicized advertisement to achieve a certain objective.
The 15th November 2012 release was signed by the Most Rev. Prof Emmanuel Asante, Chairman of the Christian Council of Ghana and Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church, Rev. Joseph Eastwood Anaba, Fountain Gate Chapel, Rev. Dr. Gordon Kisseh, Miracle Life Gospel Church and Robert Ampiah-Kwofie. The rest are Rev. Andy Yawson, KICC, Ghana, Eric Kwapong, Eric Kwapong ministries and Wisdom Dafeamekpor, Grace Chapel International and Bishop Matthew Addae-Mensah of Gospel Light International.
Education Watch, a pro-NDC grouping which has been waging a spirited crusade against the free SHS policy programme of Nana Akufo Addo, is behind the advertisement which Pastor Mensa Otabil has described as doctored remarks he made over time but which were pieced together to make it look like a recent utterance.
The Education Watch has refused to stop the advertisement, pointing out it emanates from remarks Pastor Otabil put on the public domain.
According to the pastors, “The pursuit of political office should not make us lose sight of the importance of timeless institutions that provide the support for our mutual coexistence and development.”
While individuals in churches might have their political leanings, the pastors noted, it was imperative that all strived to preserve the neutrality of the Church from partisan politics, adding, “This is to enable the revered institution to continue serving as a neutral arbiter in times of crisis.”
According to them, Pastor Otabil’s demand that the advertisement be stopped should be adhered to by all those behind it.
They recalled that since the Man of God’s press conference recently, various discourses had taken place on the media platform, largely in intemperate language.
In spite of the Pastor’s request for the withdrawal of the said political advertisement, they noted, “media advertisements with Pastor Otabil’s voice have continued playing on various networks, suggesting that he is involved in partisan debates”.
As pastors, they stated that they oversee members at the very highest levels of leadership from all sides of the political divide.
What appeared to have fueled the reaction of the pastors could have been the tongue-lashing from Dr. Tony Aidoo in which he impugned the integrity of Pastor Otabil.
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