The President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has called on Ghanaians to ignore the reckless outbursts of people who encourage divisive religious tendencies and commentary.
Describing such commentary as typical of nation wreckers, he said, “we are one people in Ghana and will therefore not tolerate people who will mar our political dialogue with divisive commentary. People who seek to sow division on religious and ethnic and tribal lines are nation wreckers.”
President Akufo-Addo said this on Wednesday, 4th December 2024, when he attended a mini durbar held in his honour by the Okyenhene, Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori-Panin, at the Ofori Panin Fie, in Kyebi.
According to President Akufo-Addo, Muslims and Christians in Ghana have lived side by side and in peace and harmony with each other over the years and have always not hesitated to condemn people who stoke divisive tendencies in this country.
“I have heard today that a certain pastor is calling on all Christians not to vote for Bawumia because he is a Muslim. Are Muslims not human? He asked.
This is a response to recent divisive comments by the Head Pastor, of Perez Chapel International, Bishop Charles Agyin Asare, calling on Ghanaians not to vote for Dr Bawumia because he is a Muslim.
“You are an NDC party sympathizer, yet you can’t state what your party is seeking to do for Ghanaians. All you able to say is that Dr Bawumia is a Muslim so do not vote for him. This recipe for religious conflicts and strife is what we don’t want in Ghana.”
Continuing, he said, “if you don’t have anything proper to say on behalf of your candidate, don’t raise tribal or religious considerations.”
President Akufo-Addo told the gathering that Ghana has far gone past such talk, that is why “we are the beacon of peace, of stability, of democratic engagement in the whole of Africa.”
Citing the latest Mo Ibrahim Index which has pegged Ghana as the one state in West Africa as far as democratic governance is concerned.
Concluding, the President called on Ghanaians to cast their vote to show that the country does not condone religious intolerance, saying, “we are a civilized nation whose citizens are peace loving.”
