Reliance On Religion As A Political Tool Should Not Be Encouraged- Rt Rev Anyani Boadum

Respected politicians like Dr. Bawumia and Hon. Dzifa Attivor have received barrage of attacks for making certain comments some believe are inflammatory and could have dire consequence on the democracy of Ghana if not dealt with.

The Superintendent Bishop of the Jesus Generation Ministries, Rt Reverend Dr Nana Anyani Boadum, has challenged elite politicians in Ghana not to undermine our democratic pillars by encouraging actions and using words that could destroy our nation.

Playing the religious card to canvass for votes in his view, should not form part of the acrimonious relations between our political parties.

It is dangerous. I want to hear statements on policy and governance style rather than religious rhetoric”, he advised.

According to him, reliance on religion as a political tool should not be encouraged in our body politics and wondered why some politicians are we now describing our political parties as Christian and Muslim.

He explained that playing the religious card infers that a candidate is disingenuously expressing a viewpoint that may win favor with a certain block of the voting population.

When politicians approach the general public on the basis of religion they may increase their vote bank but the end result is that they also divide the country”, he warned.

He pleaded with politicians who has contributed in diverse ways to the development of Ghana’s development not to engage in activities which can destroy the nation

I think that fervent expressions of religious belief by candidates do not belong in the public square. I expect our elite politicians who have helped in diverse ways to nurture our democracy to this stage not to do anything to undermine our democratic pillars”, he said.

Hon. Dzifa Attivor while addressing members of the NDC in the Volta Region, was captured on tape pleading to NDC supporters to ensure that the party is retained else she and the current Transport Minister, Fiifi Kwetey will go to jail under an NPP government.

I want to remind you that it is your vote that will decide if Fifi Kwetey and I will be prosecuted and put behind bars or not,” she reportedly said.

Her comments opened a can of worms and as it was being tackled, Dr. Bawumia rubbed the wound with more salt by telling some New Patriotic Party supporters in the Sissala East district of the Upper West that “another major issue that I want to bring to the attention of the people is that; if we look at the flagstaff house today, it does not reflect the people of Ghana in terms of religion.”

We are in this country living peacefully and nicely; Christians and Muslims. So we believe in the NPP that Christians and Muslims should work together and that is why whenever we pick a flagbearer as a Christian, we pick a Muslim as a vice.

And when we come and pick a Muslim as a flagbearer, we will pick a Christian as a vice. So if, Insha Allah, Nana Akufo-Addo becomes president, he will swear with the Bible and enter the Flagstaff and I will swear with the Quran and enter the flagstaff House.”

But Rt Reverend Dr Nana Anyani Boadum believes both calls are really uncalled-for and could cause severe harm to the nation if left unchecked.

He admonished voters not to vote for a candidate or party based on their religious affiliation or select leaders from regions most endowed with natural resources.

Political candidates should not politicize their faith or where they come from. I am half Akan, quarter Ewe,quarter Nzema. When I go to the ballot box, I go voting for a Ghanaian who is of sound mind and has what it takes to lead the nation into prosperity”, he said.

He ended by remind our respected politicians that there are so many socio-economic fault lines in the country--areas that seems weak and likely to cause problems or failure economically.

I expect our politicians to speak on policy statements and governance style rather than making such dangerous political rhetorics which has the potential to put this country in flames.”