Ofori-Atta, Nii-Moi Thompson and the Pentecost Church: Should Ghana hope for real transformation?

Last Monday, 31st July 2023, Ghana’s minister of finance Ken Ofori-Atta presented the country’s mid-year budget review before a near-hung parliament; putting his best foot forward to give hope to a people who may have become cynical to political leadership in a dilemma of having to choose between two disappointing political parties since the emergence of their forth republic over three decades ago.

In doing this, the President’s cousin, who seems to be very much respected in the ruling New Patriotic Party ( having overcome a formidable storm that sort to dislodge his hold on the finance ministry), did not fail to grow his tradition of direct reference to bible verses when accounting for his responsibilities to the very religious Ghanaian people, even in the face of herculean opposition from the seeking-to-govern-again National Democratic Congress (NDC). It is quite obvious, at least on the sentimental level, that most Ghanaians are wary of both the NPP and NDC. But for the absence of viable alternatives, these “traditional rulers” would be ditched by the increasingly discerning Ghanaian electorate who are becoming wiser after every election and have shown it in the kind of parliament they voted for the last time round.

Of the many opposing views on Ofori-Atta’s perspective of Ghana’s economy at this time, including how his government has turned the corner and is speedily down the right path to recovery, that of Nii-Moi Thompson, a respected economist who once led the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) has dared to square-off any gains the finance minister may want to make with his penchant on bible verses in the context of high level political platforms.

Doctor Thompson doesn’t want Minister Ofori-Atta to think that he, the finance minister, is the only high profile governance leader who knows the Bible and can integrate God’s word in critical matters of the State in such a seculo-spiritual manner (to woo the religious electorate). When the finance Minister references Psalm 118:23 to express his, and our, appreciation of God’s help by which, with much work, “ we have avoided the unimaginable” such as empty shop shelves for medicines, food shortage and long queues for fuel, the former Director General of the National Development Planing Commission thinks it is a political gimmick and quotes Exodus 20:7 to warn the minister not to take the name of the Lord in vain. Nii Moi asserts the minister is “the very embodiment of not just incompetence but also rank hypocrisy”. When two opposing technocrats, belonging to opposite sides of the political divide, compete to win the minds and hearts of a discerning electorate, who would Ghanaians believe? Who is speaking the truth? Who must be trusted?

There is a moral problem beneath our political and developmental challenges at both national and global levels. Truth is dead in this era of post-truth and relativism. And so trust is more idealistic than realistic. Unless we return to the right moral and spiritual foundations of humanity, we will continue to miss our way to living a life of quietness, peace, honesty and godliness (1 Timothy 2:1-3). But we can turn if we really want to.

This is why the effort of the Church of Pentecost (COP), in organizing last week the first National Development Conference, is very commendable. The conference recognized the connection between morality, development and generational wellbeing. Today, the self-centered myopic orientation of national and global leaders is a real existential threat to our common race.

As observed by the over 2000 conference participants, the moral character of Ghana has sank very very low and this demonstrated in inefficient leadership.

One key area of leadership which, if we concentrate to sanitize, can strategical change the dynamic is Christian leadership; church leaders. If our church leaders stop enriching themselves by taking advantage of the vulnerable and poor, the moral transformation being sought for would have started. The Church of Pentecost and the Ghana Charismatic and Pentecostal Council can and should lead in this. They should not see this suggestion as an attack or destructive criticism. No church leader should have more and excesses when the poorest families in his church are suffering; unless that poor family is being irresponsible in utilizing available opportunities for their well being.

This cannot be achieved overnight but there must be a committed plan towards this end.

Another point raised by the conference communique has to do with hostility against all forms of corruption and excesses. Again the church can and should lead in this direction. All those who are stealing public funds, big or small, to give offerings and tithes, should be fished out and seriously admonished to desist; and if they don’t desist name and shame, directly or indirectly as the Holy Spirit guides, to deter others in the church. If half of the church in just Accra do this seriously Ghana will be getting somewhere.

If 90% of Ghana’s population are religious, according to the communique, then have the churches failed us even more than the state political leaders?

The voluntary nature of Christianity, with the blessed and gracious freedom we have from God through humanity’s only Saviour and Lord Christ Jesus, gives every well meaning Christian the sacred responsibility to lead a holy life; abstaining from all forms of corruption, including greed, selfishness, laziness and an irresponsible sense of entitlement. Our church leaders must emphasize this and make it a continuous public discourse UNTIL we see the change we want. Piecemeal, inconsistent window-dressing sermons would not be enough. Where your treasure is that is where your heart will be: if our treasure is the glory of God, our hearts will pursue practical holy living in private and in public. Let our church leaders and all well meaning Christians stand and be counted; for real!

Our churches should make it an imperative, that no church member should ever speak lies: Not in our relationships, not in the office nor is the classroom or factory floor; and surely not in church!

The conference communique bemoans the absence of integrated moral values in our educational and social systems as the cause of dishonest intellectuals. This is a serious matter. Dishonest intellectuals are doing great disservice to society. They are smart and can outwit with smooth words and sophisticated theories and policies to drain public funds for their private benefit. They are the thieves who are never caught because they are smarter than our anti-corruption system. They are those who do “scratch my back I scratch your back”.

They pretend to disagree in public innovate to deceive the naive; but behind the scenes they creat,!loot and share; irrespective of their political differences. Dishonest intellectuals have found their way into academia, politics, churches and now when our homes. They are the fake elites who seek fame wealth and power they really have not earned with honesty. Many famous preachers are merely dishonest intellectual who manipulate gullible church attendees with twisted interpretations of God’s word and cunning craftiness. They are merely wicked.

If Ghana’s churches, especially the bobbly so-called charismatics will spend more time educating their congregations in sound biblical, life-style principles such as humility, patience, paying your debts, and bills, speaking truth to yourself and not condemning others with a holier-than-thou attitude but boldly receiving correction and respect for proper human and godliness, if they will do this and all the good things they preach but don’t do, if only we will be true to our claimed beliefs, change will come.

Individuals Christians should be more responsible in studying God’s word for themselves so that when we attend church and the leaders are taking us astray we recognize and call their attention to it.

Maybe Ghana is at the verge of leading Africa again in real transformation, inside out; or here we are once again making the most noise with our empty barrels. This is our chance. God bless.