The National Chief Imam’s spokesperson, Sheikh Aremeyaw Shaibu, has claimed that morally immature, apathetic, lethargic, and insensitive citizens are detrimental to Ghana’s ability to advance.
Sheikh Shaibu said that if a nation’s population lacked morality, neither science nor technology can advance that nation. He made this statement at the Church of Pentecost’s (COP) 2023 National Development Conference in Gomoa-Fetteh in the Central Region.
The Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia, the former Presidents John Agyekum Kufuor and John Dramani Mahama, the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, Ministers of State, and the Chief Justice, Madam Getrude Araba Torkonoo, were all present.
It was on the theme; “Moral Vision and National Development.”
The spokesperson for the Chief Imam claimed that corruption was the nation’s most serious problem and questioned how it could arise in a culture where stealing from the government had become customary and where selfishness and greed were the norm.
He explained the predicament as being caused by a loss of moral authority, with a rising tide of moral insensitivity and indifference within religious communities, thereby causing a lack of moral direction.
According to Sheikh Shaibu, moral standards regulate communities; hence, the more moral standards are disregarded without consequence, the slower the rate of growth. He then asserted that the country required a moral reorientation, with the populace imbued with the same human ideals that had supported civilization and bound communities for millennia.
Sheikh Shaibu listed the virtues as generosity, selflessness, loyalty to one’s country, honesty, faithfulness, love, and compassion, and he urged religious institutions to set the example. In his words, there was no other way to “resolve the contradiction between a predominance of religious and chronic moral degeneration.”
In addition, the Chairman of the Church of Pentecost, Apostle Eric Nyamekye, averred that the nation required a climate that was anti-corruption.“We must create an environment that is hostile to corruption of water bodies, beaches, immorality, false judgements, and favoritism…”, he opined.
He said the way forward was a shared value on morality because that was the only way “politicians could lead with the next generation in mind, and not the next election.”
As stated by Apostle Nyamekye, “a vision makes a person, but moral vision makes a nation,” and without that common value, the country would be gone. He urged the National flag to be projected, emphasizing that “when pastors preach, let them think about the flag. Let the members of Parliament consider the flag during sessions, not the NPP or NDC flags.”
The COP Chairman claimed that the “transformation of the National flag” was the Church’s goal and that it was ready to support a moral Ghana.
COP Proposes Development Of Moral Vision Plan
According to the Church of Pentecost, a Moral Vision Plan should be created to guide national development goals.
The suggestion follows a two-day National Development Conference conducted in the Gomoa Fetteh, Central Region, Pentecost Convention Center (PCC).
According to a communiqué released after the summit, the nation’s moral character has deteriorated, resulting, among other things, to disdain in public discourse.
As a result, it was advised that a National Moral and Integrity Council (NMIC) be established with authority comparable to that of the National Peace Council, in order to “start the process of restoration of generations of decay and moral decadence that Ghana has experienced over the years.”
The National Development Conference would be held frequently, according to the statement, “to engage with stakeholders on the issue of moral vision and its impact on the development of our country.”
It also suggested that a national program for moral reorientation for citizens, particularly young people, be developed and implemented immediately. “We believe this conference will be the watershed for moral, ethical and sound re-awakening for Ghanaians and Africa,” it concluded.
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