Church has crucial role in accountability, Thursday, December 23, 2010, Spread
The Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Rev Prof. Emmanuel Martey, says the church has a crucial role to play in championing accountability and transparency in the country’s emerging oil and gas industry.
He said the Presbyterian Church would lead the crusade against corruption and indiscipline in order to promote the country’s development agenda.
He noted that the church did not frown on wealth but it must be properly acquired and used, adding that it was not simply a matter of telling people not to be corrupt; it should also be about telling people not to corrupt others.
Rev Martey, who was delivering the church’s annual Christmas goodwill message, said even though the oil find was a blessing, the nation must guard against mismanaging the resources in order to avoid treading the ‘oil curse’ path of other oil-rich countries in Africa.
“The mistakes of other nations have to guide us in managing our oil wealth to ensure that we derive benefits that will speed the development of our country,” he said.
He expressed strong reservations about the collateralisation of the country’s oil revenue for loans, saying the move could endanger the country’s economic fortunes in the future.
He called on people in positions of trust to work such that it would bring joy and hope to all Ghanaians.
“Social interventions like scholarship schemes, donations to charitable organisations, health and agriculture service by churches are commendable and should be sustained.”
He urged ministries and agencies tasked with responsibilities that improve the lot of the rural poor to ensure prudent use of the country’s resources to ensure quality work and accelerated development.
He said Christmas was a period to “respond to human needs in our ways in our own situation. Any initiative and intervention that will bring joy and hope to someone must be the concern of all governments, churches, corporate bodies, communities, families and friends.”
Rev Prof. Martey bemoaned the discriminatory behaviours which had permeated the Ghanaian society, saying “we live in a world where equal access to education, justice and wealth is still a mirage for many”.
He said it was regrettable that at this stage of the country’s existence, people still died through preventable causes because of lack of funds.
He said the Presbyterian Church would lead the crusade against corruption and indiscipline in order to promote the country’s development agenda.
He noted that the church did not frown on wealth but it must be properly acquired and used, adding that it was not simply a matter of telling people not to be corrupt; it should also be about telling people not to corrupt others.
Rev Martey, who was delivering the church’s annual Christmas goodwill message, said even though the oil find was a blessing, the nation must guard against mismanaging the resources in order to avoid treading the ‘oil curse’ path of other oil-rich countries in Africa.
“The mistakes of other nations have to guide us in managing our oil wealth to ensure that we derive benefits that will speed the development of our country,” he said.
He expressed strong reservations about the collateralisation of the country’s oil revenue for loans, saying the move could endanger the country’s economic fortunes in the future.
He called on people in positions of trust to work such that it would bring joy and hope to all Ghanaians.
“Social interventions like scholarship schemes, donations to charitable organisations, health and agriculture service by churches are commendable and should be sustained.”
He urged ministries and agencies tasked with responsibilities that improve the lot of the rural poor to ensure prudent use of the country’s resources to ensure quality work and accelerated development.
He said Christmas was a period to “respond to human needs in our ways in our own situation. Any initiative and intervention that will bring joy and hope to someone must be the concern of all governments, churches, corporate bodies, communities, families and friends.”
Rev Prof. Martey bemoaned the discriminatory behaviours which had permeated the Ghanaian society, saying “we live in a world where equal access to education, justice and wealth is still a mirage for many”.
He said it was regrettable that at this stage of the country’s existence, people still died through preventable causes because of lack of funds.
Comments
Post a Comment