Avoid corruption, unhealthy political rivalry— Catholic Bishop’s Conference

The Ghana Catholic Bishops Conference (GCBC) has urged political leaders to avoid bribery and corruption, unhealthy political rivalry and the culture of insults this year.

In a New Year message to Ghanaians, the President of GCBC, Most Rev. Joseph Osei-Bonsu, challenged Ghanaians to end sycophancy and bootlicking “and have the courage to castigate our politicians when they go wrong.” 

Most Rev. Osei-Bonsu, who is also the Bishop of Konongo-Mampong, tasked politicians to avoid misappropriation of funds.

Besides, he said, there should be no unnecessary and unhealthy rivalry between political parties, stressing the need for Ghanaians to end the culture of insults that is prevalent in our country, especially in the political arena.

“Certain pronouncements and actions by highly-placed Ghanaians do not promote peace. Rather they create confusion, rancour, bitterness and resentment,” he said.

Twin evils

Most Rev. Osei-Bonsu expressed worry that the twin evils of bribery and corruption continued to ravage every fabric of the Ghanaian society. 

He said corruption was found in the judiciary, the security agencies, the Customs, Excise and Preventive Service, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA), sports and educational institutions and among politicians.

“If corruption is rife in our country today, it is principally because even though we have strong institutions, there is a lack of integrity on the part of the people operating these institutions and on the part of many individuals in the country,” he stated. 

He said if people were guided in their consciences by integrity and honesty, there would be no corruption or, at least, it would be reduced drastically, and Ghana would be a better place than it is today.

Most Rev. Osei-Bonsu advised the people to not let their desire for quick money drive them to stealing and armed robbery.  

He called for a campaign against permissiveness, casual sex and its attendant evils such as the termination of unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases, including the incurable HIV-AIDS.  

Work ethics

Most Rev. Osei-Bonsu further tasked Ghanaians to take their work seriously, since the development of the country depended on commitment to work.

“We need to do something as a nation about our work ethic, which is very bad.  If we wish to make progress as a nation, we should take our work seriously.  

“Ghana,” he said,  “cannot make any progress economically when people go to work late, when they laze about in the workplace, read the newspapers and work lotto, and when workers take bribes before they render services to people.”   

“When people refuse to work hard but then collect their salaries at the end of the month, they are committing a social sin, a sin against the state,” he added.

Extortion by religious leaders

Most Rev. Osei-Bonsu exhorted religious leaders to not  let the influence of money and other material benefits lead them to financially and sexually exploit people who go to them for spiritual assistance.

He advised christians to eschew the widespread practice of invoking curses at shrines to kill those who wrong them.