Politician should live in peace-Arch Bishop Nketiah

The archbishop of the Cape Coast Diocese of the Catholic Church, Matthias Kobina Nketiah, has advised politicians to live in peace to enable the upcoming elections to be peaceful. "Let us reduce the tension in the country to allay the fears of the citizenry of any mishap before, during and after the elections," the Archbishop said when delivering a sermon to mark the centenary celebration of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church at Ampenyi, near Elmina on Sunday. Archbishop Nketiah appealed to politicians to make the upcoming elections to be held in a more relaxed atmosphere saying "the current atmosphere is too charged to ensure violent-free election". "Politicians especially, political party leaders must be made to assure the nation that they were truly for peace and would accept the verdict of the electorate," the Archbishop stated.  He noted that the Christian faith was all about living in peace with neighbours and admonished politicians, most of whom were Christians, to let the faith permeate in all their dealings. The Ampenyi Sacred Heart of Jesus Church was established by a Muslim fisherman called Kofi Otoo who was converted into Catholicism in Axim in the Western region while on fishing expedition. He returned to Ampenyi, his home town filled with the Catholic faith and organised his people to establish the Church in 1912. Archbishop Nketiah said for the Church to surmount all challenges and survived to celebrate 100 years of its establishment meant God's spirit was with it. He reminded Christians that the Holy Spirit lives in them and urged them to desist from using their bodies, which were regarded as the holy temple of God in doing evil. They must not defy the body but to keep it holy for Christ. Mr Isaac Kweku Sam, Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abirem Municipal Chief Executive, urged Ghanaian, especially Christians to speak the truth even to the peril of their lives. He urged them not to sell their conscience for anything during the elections.  He asked the electorate to weigh the campaign messages of the politicians and find out those which were easy to be implemented before casting their votes. Mr Robert Biney, educationist and elder of the town, in a welcoming address appealed to the Archbishop to create the Sacred Heart of Jesus Church a parish. Dr Nana Ato Arthur, the New Patriotic Parliamentary candidate for Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abirem, said Ghana was practising multi-party democracy which encouraged formation of multiple political parties. He said since all Ghanaians could belong to one party, it behoved on them to co-exist in peace. Dr Joseph S. Annan, Member of Parliament, for the area stressed on the need for Ghanaians to unite in diversity. Over GHC11,000 were collected in appeal for funds.

GNA