Don’t trade insults and threats in 2012 elections - Moderator

The Former Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, The Very Reverend Dr Yaw Frimpong-Manso has exhorted political leaders and their supporters to stop trading insults and threats before, during and after the December elections to ensure peace in the country. "We expect our politicians to debate on issues that affect the development of our nation and the improvement of the welfare of our people, particularly the poor, weak and vulnerable in society". Very Rev Dr Frimpong-Manso stated this at the launching of the fifth Anniversary Celebration of the Presbyterian Relief Services and Development (PRS/D), a Non Governmental Organization, which is also a wing of the Church in Accra.   He said political leaders and those vying for positions of leadership must tell the people how they would equitably distribute resources instead of attacking personalities. Very Rev Dr Frimpong-Manso said the churches would continue to pray for peace and good leadership for the nation and also proclaim the love of God expressed in Jesus Christ for all disadvantaged and devastated people. The Moderator said the church will use both prophetic and advocacy roles to help government to elevate societies from hopelessness to progress and an enhanced  welfare.  Very Rev Dr Frimpong-Manso said that a lot of communities were without the basic needs while majority of them were living in unhealthy environmental conditions. He therefore urged politicians to help such people to come out from such predicaments for them live in good condition of lives. Mr. Antwi-Bonsiako Sekyere, Deputy Minister of Employment and Social Welfare in a speech read for him, commended the Presbyterian Church of Ghana for the services it was rendering to disaster victims and mankind as a whole.      He urged Christians to be extra careful when discussing politics as the country prepared towards the 2012 Presidential and Parliamentary elections. Mr. Antwi-Bonsiako Sekyere advised Christians, especially pastors and the leadership, to use their pulpits to preach peace and tranquility.

GNA