BISHOP COMMENDS GOVT (NSEMPA, PAGE 15)

By Collins Agyekum-Gyasi, Obuasi

THE Obuasi Diocesan Bishop of the Methodist Church Rt. Rev. Benjamin K Asare has commended the President of the Republic, Mr J A Kufour’s government for stabilising the economy of this country since the past seven years.
“It is unbelievable that the Ghana cedi is now higher than a dollar. It is a great achievement.”
He made the commendation when addressing the 11th Annual Synod of the church at Chapel Square at Anyinam near the Ofori Stadium, Obuasi on Thursday.
The theme for the Synod was “Come Holy Spirit, Empower your Church for Mission.”
Speaking on the mission of God to bring others into the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, Bishop Asare also thanked the government saying, “I am happy he has listened to the religious bodies to bring back religious and moral training on the schools curriculum,” in the country. The government is a listening government, we are grateful.
Touching on the micro economy however, Bishop Asare urged the government to sit up, if it doesn’t want to lose all the economic gains the nation had been boasting of, because inflation was now on the ascendancy, which could erode every gain.
“Of late, it seems things are changing and we are going backwards. The inflation rate is now going up again. It is the beginning of the planting season but already prices of the basic commodities like cereals, are up over 100 per cent.”
From his own market survey here, the Bishop observed that a bunch of plantain, which was sold at GH¢1.80, now cost GH¢4.00 whereas a bag of rice, which formerly sold at GH¢12.50 is now up at GH¢25.55.
The clergyman said it was obvious that there was a hike, and interestingly, in such inflationary situations, the poor and the marginalized always suffered and mentioned the current fuel increases on the world market and the down nosing of the weaker dollar, as the two major indicators for the appalling situation, and asked if the economy of Ghana could stand those external shocks?
He said the signs were on the wall therefore the government should act and act quickly since we are in an election year.
“Political analysts see the situation as precarious for the government. Most Ghanaians find it difficult to endure hardship and immediately hardship comes they turn and desert even their popular government,” he stressed.
He reminded the government that they “should not forget that the same people who shouted hosanna, hosanna on that faithful Sunday, turned their voices to crucify him, crucify him” just six days later.
Nana Boafour Kyei, Gyasehene of Fomena who represented the Adansi Traditional Council (Adansiman) appealed to Christians, mostly women, to desist from invoking curses on others.
He also advised the general public to receive politicians who call on them and vote according to their conscience rather than the “ whom you know syndrome.”
The Member of Parliament for Obuasi, Mr Edward Ennin, for his part, appealed to them to shun insults and register so that they could vote.
The Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr Emmanuel A Owusu Ansah in an address read for him, said the synod of a diocese serve as an appraisal since an unexamined life was not worth living.