Archbishop Nicholas Duncan-Williams, the Founder and General Overseer of Action Chapel International, has delivered a stark warning to Ghanaian politicians, urging them to take immediate action to address the nation’s worsening socioeconomic conditions.
Speaking in Accra at a meeting with John Dramani Mahama, the flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), and members of the Christian Ecumenical Council, the Archbishop emphasized the dire state of the nation.
“There is too much pain and suffering in this country. All our doctors and nurses are leaving,” Duncan-Williams stated, highlighting the exodus of healthcare professionals as a significant concern. He warned that without swift and effective measures, Ghanaians might be forced to seek refuge in foreign countries due to internal strife.
The Archbishop’s comments underscore the urgent need for transparency and fairness in governance to prevent further deterioration of the nation’s healthcare system and broader socioeconomic environment. “We pray that things will be managed with transparency and fairness to prevent us from becoming refugees in other countries,” he asserted.
Duncan-Williams also dispelled the notion that Ghanaians are inherently passive, warning political leaders that the population’s underlying resilience and potential for unrest should not be underestimated. “Without proper fairness, honesty, and transparency, things may fall out of hand. And may I say this, that nobody should think that the Ghanaian is a very gentle, I-don’t-like-trouble human being. It is not true,” he cautioned.
Former President John Mahama, present at the meeting, echoed the Archbishop’s sentiments and called on the church to play an active role in ensuring transparency in the upcoming 2024 elections. He expressed concerns about the neutrality of newly appointed Electoral Commission officials, many of whom have strong ties to the ruling party.
“This is a president who is appointing politically exposed people into positions of trust where they are supposed to be neutral and non-partisan,” Mahama said. “People who have been communicators for the party, people who have been IT backstops for the party, are today Commissioners of the Electoral Commission. How do you expect them to be neutral and fair?”
Mahama urged the church to be vigilant and vocal about electoral integrity. “We want to wake up the conscience of the nation that the right thing must be done so that the outcome can actually be the will of the people. Going up to the election, we will continue to play our part. We will raise red flags anytime we think things are not going very well,” he asserted.
The meeting concluded with a collective acknowledgment of the challenges facing the nation and a renewed commitment to work together to address these issues, ensuring a brighter future for all Ghanaians. Both Duncan-Williams and Mahama emphasized the importance of genuine leadership, accountability, and transparency in overcoming the country’s current crises.
This call to action comes at a critical time, as Ghana navigates a complex landscape of economic and social challenges. The unified message from religious and political leaders highlights a shared commitment to addressing these issues with urgency and integrity.
