Christian Council lists 4 political demons ahead of election 2020

The Christian Council has urged Ghanaians to be wary of ‘political demons’ ahead of the 2020 general elections.

The Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Rev Prof. Joseph Obiri Yeboah Mante, has listed four demons and said they should be exorcised before election 2020.

“I have observed some four-basic demonic traits in Ghana’s politics that should be exorcised before election 2020”

1. The demon of wishing the downfall of a ruling party

‘This demon seeks the failure of the government and anytime it is triggered Ghana loses on its development. This spirit prays that the government does not do well so it gains political power.’

2. The demon of ethnic or tribal polarization

‘This demon believes that some tribes are more Ghanaian than others, the worst thing is that the demons use it politically during election periods. This position can be held by either the government or the opposition parties, Ghana does not belong to any particular tribal or ethnic group, it belongs to all of us so this demon must be exorcised.’

The NDC has reacted angrily to comments made by an NPP MP, K.T Hammond, who said Togolese should not be allowed to enter Ghana to register for a voter ID card. It was interpreted by some to mean that Ewes in the Volta region which shares a border with Togo are not Ghanaians.

It generated heated discussions on social media and resurrected perceptions that the NPP are against Ewes.

3. The demon of uncultured hate speech and lies

‘Just because of election people insult and lie about other people’s characters and personalities. Young boys’ and girls’ insults people who are old enough to be their parents, sometimes one wonders who nurture these.’

‘That demon is a disgrace to Ghana’s politics and must be banished.’

4. The demon of violence and abuse of power

‘There are people who talk violence and act violently, they exhibit these characteristics during electioneering campaigns.’

‘When people who speak violence are supported by leaders then the country becomes anarchy.’

On Tuesday, a 28-year old man was killed in Banda in the Bono region during electoral violence. He had completed his teacher training program and was on his way to see his pastor when he was stabbed to death.

Prof. Mante was speaking at a short ceremony of a 21-member eminent person group inaugurated to serve as election 2020 proactive peacebuilding platform.

The group is made up of representatives from the Catholic Bishop Conference, the Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council, the Muslim fraternity, and other religious groups.

The group will be tasked to engage and meditate between democratic stakeholders, political parties, security agencies, and the electoral commission in resolving political disputes.

“We will commit ourselves to effective monitoring systems that will engage the powers that be to make sure that in the name of God our elections are truly fair and transparent”.