STATE, CHURCH PARTNERSHIP KEY (JAN 20)

THE Church has played very significant roles in the development process in the country.
In addition to its traditional mandate to promote the spiritual uplift of its members, the Church has also supported the physical well-being of Christians. It has always reminded Christians of the importance of leading spiritually fulfilling lifestyles so that they can be part of God’s Kingdom after death.
Members of the clergy do not miss the opportunity to tell their congregations to always lead upright lives and seek the path to Heaven through supplications, prayers and thanksgiving.
However, modern-day churches go beyond promoting the spiritual well-being of their members. Many churches are involved in the provision of physical infrastructure and social services to improve the lives of their members.
Presently, orthodox, pentecostal and charismatic denominations and other religious faiths are contributing to uplift the physical well-being of all Ghanaians.
The religious groups are involved in the provision of health and educational infrastructure and services. Some of the best hospitals and educational institutions were built by these religious bodies.
The state has constitutional, social and moral obligations to make life worth living for all Ghanaians. Article 36, clause 1, says that “the state shall take all necessary action to ensure that the national economy is managed in such a manner as to maximise the rate of economic development and to secure the maximum welfare, freedom and happiness of every person in Ghana and to provide adequate means of livelihood and suitable employment and public assistance to the needy.”
This is a very tall order which cannot be fulfilled by the state without the active collaboration of the citizenry.
It is in this context that the DAILY GRAPHIC endorses the call by the Vice-President, Mr John Dramani Mahama, for collaborative efforts between the government and religious bodies to fight the numerous vices in society.
Indeed, the country is at its wits’ end trying to come to terms with issues that threaten the fabric of our society.
The list will be inexhaustive if we should attempt to enumerate them. What this means is that these vices have taken deep root in our society and it will be difficult for the state to deal with them single-handedly.
Religious leaders have a huge influence over their congregations and the DAILY GRAPHIC is of the view that if our religious bodies decide to partner the state in the fight to bring social vices under control, the outcome of the partnership will be more fruitful.
We are again encouraged by the appeal by Vice-President Mahama to all Ghanaians, irrespective of their political inclinations, to join in healing any wounds that might have been inflicted on people prior to the elections.
The task of rebuilding the nation can be attained through a partnership that rejects any attempt to look at the colour of one’s political party before he/she is allowed to make a contribution to nation-building.
We cannot attain the goals of a new dawn if we do not reject the negative behaviours that retard our progress and wage a relentless war against those who will attempt to frustrate the move to guarantee better living conditions for all.