Let’s uphold peace at Easter - Clergymen tell Ghanaians

Heads of various Christian denominations in the country have reminded Christians that the Easter celebrations ought to be used for sober reflection on the sacrifice that Jesus Christ made in dying to save mankind from sin.

They said contrary to the norm where people engaged in needless celebrations during the period, Christians ought to rather see the sacrifice made by Jesus as exemplary and worthy of emulation as they went about their endeavours.

They were unanimous in their view that the economic fortunes of the country would improve if the great number of Christians in the country learnt to sacrifice a little in the national interest.

In the same vein, they called on Ghanaians to remain agents of peace and unity as the country prepared for elections later in the year.

They called on Christians everywhere in the country to exhibit Jesus Christ’s peaceful nature and endeavour to remain calm even in the face of the  most serious provocation.

It was their view that even though Ghana had remained an oasis of peace in a relatively troubled sub-region, that accolade could only be maintained if Ghanaians made positive overtures to sustain and even improve the status quo.

Speaking in different interviews with the Daily Graphic, the religious heads were unanimous in urging Ghanaians to go about the celebrations in a calm manner and refrain from acts that would create confusion and chaos.

Catholic Bishops Conference

The President of the Ghana Catholic Bishops Conference, The Most Rev. Joseph Osei-Bonsu, said Easter marked the death and resurrection of Jesus.

Therefore, he urged Christians and Ghanaians in general to use the season to reflect on the suffering of Christ and its gains for humans.

The Most Rev. Osei-Bonsu, who is also the Bishop of the Konongo-Mampong Diocese, bemoaned the high rate of evil and wrongdoing in society, saying, “There are so many evil and wrong things within our society in recent times.”

To give meaning to the suffering of Jesus, he urged Ghanaians to desist from evil and sin by forgiving one another and re-dedicating themselves to God to become better people as the world marked the resurrection of Jesus and became part of the new creation.

“Easter should challenge us to avoid immorality, including stealing, armed robbery, drunkenness, reckless driving, Internet fraud and other forms of fraud that are destroying the nation. We must also avoid permissiveness and casual sex which can lead to sexually transmitted diseases, including the incurable HIV and AIDS,” he stated.

“We urge people of different religious persuasions to continue to live together in peace and use peaceful and legitimate means to resolve all differences and challenges that may arise,” he said.

On the activities lined up for the Easter season, he said there would be mass of oils, baptism and confirmation, mass of the last supper, among many other events, in the Konongo-Mampong Diocese and Catholic congregations across the country and the globe.

Bishop Agyinasare

For his part, the Founder of the Perez Chapel International, Bishop Charles Agyinasare, admonished Ghanaians to remember the sacrifice of Jesus as Easter was being celebrated.

He advised that the season should not be used for drinking and indulging in all kinds of immorality but used for a reflection on the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

As the country prepared towards the general election in November, Bishop Agyinasare urged Ghanaians to reflect on the peaceful nature of Jesus and emulate Him.

“We should ensure that the elections are free from mayhem and chaos. Peace should be paramount to every Ghanaian in this year’s elections,” he stressed. 

EP Church

The Moderator of the Evangelical Presbyterian (EP) Church, the Rt Rev. Dr Seth Senyo Agidi, in his message, said “Easter is a season to reflect on the redemption of Jesus Christ and it is also a living hope and newness in Jesus”.

He said there was the need for Christians to re-dedicate themselves to Christ and renew their faith in Him, adding that “the cross is a symbol of forgiveness, unity and love. In this season, we should forgive one another, show love to one another and unite”.

On the general election, the Rt Rev. Dr Agidi said it was time for Ghanaians to commit to unity and peace as the date approached.

“It is important for us to take a cue from the conduct of previous elections vis-à-vis eruptions that emanate from similar national elections held in some of our sister African countries.

“It is my belief that all actors in Ghana’s political arena and electoral exercise belong to one religious faith or another. Let us, therefore, affirm allegiance to our country and demonstrate our faith as dedicated stewards of God to ensure a peaceful and successful general election this year and beyond,” he urged.

He also encouraged Christians to support community development as they reflected on the death and resurrection of Christ, saying, “The government alone cannot do it.”

Rev. Dr Robert Ampiah-Kwofi

“Easter is the most important Christian festival because it commemorates the most significant events of the Christian faith. Jesus Christ died for mankind because men were spiritually dead, making them separated from the life and nature of God,” the General Overseer of the Global Revival Ministries, Rev. Dr Robert Ampiah-Kwofi, explained.

As the world continued to become more unsafe and as sin increased, he said, there was a great need for all individuals to put their trust in Christ and accept Him as their Lord and personal Saviour.

“It is important that as a nation we do not give in to a spirit of negativity and hopelessness. No matter the challenges that surround us, there is hope for our future because Christ is risen,” he said.

In that respect, Rev. Dr Ampiah-Kwofi indicated that Ghana could be victorious as the general election approached if everyone resolved to contribute his or her quota to uplift  the nation.

“As we approach our next general election, we must cultivate a sense of unity and oneness as a people. Let's commit our nation to God in prayer for peace and prosperity. God is with us; God is with Ghana,” he stated.

Presbyterian Church of Ghana

For his part, the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, the Rt Rev. Prof. Emmanuel Martey, said the true essence of Easter was the celebration of the unconditional love of God that He demonstrated for believers.

“What happened on the Cross was God’s ultimate response in order that forgiveness, reconciliation, peace and salvation could be made available, in keeping with His ultimate plan for the world,” he said.

As we celebrate the death of Christ, he said, Christians must not lose sight of the many challenges and forces that militated against them and the nation as a whole.

He recalled the numerous challenges that confronted the country last year, notable among them being the power crisis and the floods and fire which claimed more than 160 lives, saying, “City authorities must live up to expectation and enforce compliance with proper plans.”

As the country prepared for the general election this year, the Rt Rev. Prof. Martey called on political parties to avoid ethnocentric and inflammatory speeches.

“The Electoral Commission should be circumspect in all its activities before, during and after the elections and ensure a high sense of neutrality. The EC should also listen to all stakeholders in the elections. 

“We should all ensure that the elections are held under an atmosphere of peace and tranquillity devoid of any form of violence. Let us consider what has happened in other countries as a result of political unrest.

“Ghanaians cannot afford to lose the prevailing peace they are enjoying. I am, therefore, appealing to the leadership of all the political parties to impress upon their followers to be circumspect in their utterances in order not to inflame passions. I also call on the Christian community to pray for peace for the country at all times,” he added.

Assemblies of God

The General Council of the Assemblies of God, Ghana, in a statement, said: “As we celebrate Easter, let us remember to focus our attention on the message of the Cross, the personality of the Cross and the life transforming implications of the Cross.”

The statement, signed by the General Superintendent of the church, Rev. Dr Paul Frimpong-Manso, said Easter presented another opportunity for unbelievers to give their lives to Christ and rededicate themselves to God.

“Let us all use this occasion to demonstrate the love of God for our country. Let us bury our differences and prejudices and show Christ-like love to one another. Let us purge ourselves of all social vices such as corruption, greed and selfishness. Let us promote peace, love and harmony with one another in all our endeavours,” it said.

On the 2016 elections, the church urged Christians to use the Easter period to pray earnestly for the peace and prosperity of the country before, during and after the November elections.