The Accra Catholic Archdiocese on Wednesday, December 11, 2019, held the first in a series of “Conversations in the Cathedral” to discuss issues of common concern to the nation. Hosted by the Metropolitan Archbishop of Accra, Most Rev. John Bonaventure Kwofie, it featured the Chairman of the National Peace Council, Most Rev. Prof. Emmanuel Asante; the General Overseer of the International Central Gospel Church, Rev. Dr Mensah Otabil and the host, His Grace, Most Rev. John Bonaventure Kwofie as speakers on the theme: “Reflections on Being a Christian in Ghana Today: In Preparation for Christmas 2019”.
An initiative of Most Rev. Kwofie, ‘Conversations in the Cathedral’ is meant to bring people of diverse backgrounds, expertise and creed together to dialogue as people of the same humanity who have the interest of the common good at heart. “This will, in turn, create a bridge of trust among all participants and their various followers that will eventually inure to the benefit of the nation as a whole with the understanding that the citizens are not enemies but a people of a common destiny.” This will help promote peace and stability in the nation.
Rev. Prof. Asante based his talk on the relationship between Christianity and politics. He said that some Christians shy away from politics because they deem politics to be all dirty. Basing his talk on Mathew 17: 24-27, he noted that Jesus Christ paid his taxes and urged citizens to give unto God what is God’s and unto Caesar what is Caesar’s. He noted that Jesus was born into a political context to liberate people from Roman subjugation.
The Chairman of the Peace Council said that as Christians, we are ambassadors of Christ and must play the role that our Saviour put us on this earth to play. He said that it is incumbent upon us to uphold the concept of governance.
Prof. Asante said that people must be socially responsible because they live in a society and must contribute their quota religiously to the good and progress of the society. He said that a church that cuts itself from society will eventually be isolated and die off.
He noted that a christian is a citizen of heaven but, at the same time, belongs to a society with a culture and cannot pretend not to be affected by the world. He said that everyone is affected by the socio-political culture of the society that the person lives in.
He said that christians should, therefore, not shy away from politics but affect lives positively through their actions and not compromise because they are shunned and alienated by their colleagues.
The General Overseer of the International Central Gospel Church, Rev. Dr Mensah Otabil, talked about the wonder of a child being born by an inexperienced, uninitiated virgin explaining that this whole act makes the celebration of christmas such a wonderful event. He, however, lamented the changes in our world today which make us more individualistic.
Pastor Otabil recalled the good old days when everyone was everyone’s neighbour and freely shared the little they had. He said that there was a more genuine show of love than there is today. He recalled the era when people sent and received christmas cards and strung these as decoration in their homes. He said that the digital age where people now send cards and cakes electronically has limited that personal touch that existed back in the day.
Most Rev. Archbishop Kwofie bemoaned the practice of modern day pastors where all energy is spent on healing the sick and driving out demons. He said that Jesus was also interested in the poor - beggars, prostitutes, families who struggled to put bread on the table, etc. He said that there is a craze for prophetic utterances where pastors claim to have all kinds of visions and even claim to possess the key to heaven’s ATM machines. He said that christians have become very gullible and false prophets are taking advantage of them and ruining families with their irresponsible teachings.
He said that the life of the rich is foolishness and a failure when they do not see poverty in their neighbourhoods and continue to inflict suffering on others by their insensitivity. He said that they forget that their wealth is a blessing unto them which must be shared with others.
He questioned if we can call ourselves authentic christians when we run after wealth and neglect the poor.
The former President, His Excellency, John Dramani Mahama, said that as Ghanaians, we share a common faith and destiny and must, therefore, ask ourselves what we can contribute, as people of God, to move this nation forward and make it the nation that we want it to be. He called for an attitude change in Ghanaians.
The Minister for Food and Agriculture, Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto, who stood in for the President, His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo, said that the government had done well in respect of taking care of the poor through its ‘planting for food and jobs’ programme and offering Free SHS to everybody.
The Most Rev. Joseph Osei-Bonsu, Bishop of the Konongo-Mampong Diocese, in a message that was read on his behalf, reflected on Advent from Isaiah 9:6-7.
Present at the event were the Auditor-General, Mr Daniel Yao Domelevo, Ministers, Members of the Diplomatic Corps, politicians and the religious from the different faith groups.