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Anti corruption drive must
begin within ggovernment - ICC
Accra, Aug. 30, Ghanadot/GNA-
The International Council for Clergy (ICC), at the weekend
called on the government to start the crusade against
corruption from its ranks, in order to have the moral
authority to stamp out the national canker without fear or
favour.
Archbishop Dr George Slezer Ofori-Atta, Presiding Archbishop
of the ICC, who made the call in Accra, said corruption was
inimical to the development of any nation.
“When allowed either conscientiously or inadvertently to
operate in a free environment at whatever level, it becomes
very destructive,” he stressed.
The Archbishop was giving a keynote at the 14th Public
Ministerial Ordination and Consecration of nine members of
the clergy.
The ICC, which is an Association of Independent Ministers
and Churches, is affiliated to the Council of Black Clergy
in Philadelphia, USA.
Archbishop Ofori-Atta’s speech touched on five thematic
issues covering Democracy, Corruption, Education, Justice
and the Church.
He noted that democracy is about the welfare of the people
and so the overnight acquisition of wealth by politicians
tends to raise a lot of public concern.
Archbishop Ofori-Atta noted that democracy goes with
leadership and accountability, adding that good leadership
reflects the quality of life of the people and not
necessarily policies.
He appealed to the government to respect the independence of
the Judiciary and strengthen institutions like the Ghana
Police Service, the Bureau of National Investigations and
the Commission of Human Rights and Administrative Justice to
improve on the country’s justice system.
“We (ICC) pray the government therefore to let equity,
justice and fair trial for everybody thrive in our society.
“We have been witnesses of situations in this nation where
the Executive arm of Government was seen getting involved in
issues of the judiciary.”
Archbishop Ofori-Atta condemned the violence that was
associated with the Akwatia parliamentary run-of and asked
people aspiring to leadership positions not to entertain
fisticuffs to achieve their political ambitions.
“The politician as a leader must be seen dong what is right
and that means setting good example and not inciting people
to fight.”
Touching on education, he said the current reforms of the
educational system should be devoid of partisan politics.
“The back and forth issue on the three or four years Senior
High School (SHS) education should be devoid of any
political colourisation.”
Archbishop Ofori-Atta said the debate should not be based on
the duration of the SHS system but rather the viability of
the reforms.
He asked the government to motivate teachers to give of
their best in order to arrest the poor academic standards,
citing the abysmal performance of students of the recent
Basic Education Certificate Examination as example.
Archbishop Ofori-Atta expressed concern about the practice
of some ministers of the gospel, who out of ignorance or
sheer negligence append their signatures on marriage
certificates and other government documents when they are
not gazetted or authorised to do so.
He said the sanctity of the Church was being undermined by
members of the clergy who championed material acquisition
and engaged in demonic activities to perform miracles.
Bishop Floyd Hills of the US-based Advocate Give of Life
Ministries, said no force on earth could stop ministers of
God from fulfilling their divinely ordained mission on earth
and asked them to move on if their calling is of God.
Dr Richard Lewis of the Marvellous Light Church, also in the
US was consecrated as Bishop at the ceremony.
He observed that a minister of the gospel was greater than
the President of the US and charged them to be truthful to
their call.
GNA
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