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Greetings, my name is Kwesi Eswuon Baako. Welcome to D’Editorial. For today’s consideration: How much God should be allowed in our governance?
God. How do we see Him or Her as a nation? Ask our traditional priests and you will hear about Otwedeampong Kwame and Asaase Yaa. But you will also very likely get a range of opinion about who this Divinity really is.
Ask the ‘men of God’ and I believe you will also get a range of answers that will clearly show you that even if we may all profess the same faith, deep down, we have, even if slightly, varying ideas of who we think God is.
Even among our Muslim counterparts, this is not uncommon; And why is this important? I hope we can connect the dots by the time this editorial is through.
Recently we have seen the emergence of so-called men of God who have incredible influence over our leaders. And it is not difficult to figure out how that happens. During campaign season, politicians form alliances with these religious leaders of all shades and textures, from different faiths because they are trying to court their affection and win the votes of their often teeming members. After they win power, these men of God feel entitled because they think they are responsible for the politician’s victory, not because they contributed numbers but because they claim some sort of divine intervention in the rather mundane process of casting a vote.
After they win power, these men of God feel entitled because they think they are responsible for the politician’s victory, not because they contributed numbers but because they claim some sort of divine intervention in the rather mundane process of casting a vote.
Now, the politician’s dilemma starts after they have won the election. The entitled men of God feel like the country should be governed according to what they see as acceptable. Some of them even think they should have special privileges.
And recently, we hear the overt suggestions from some of these men on how the president should run the country.
Now if you hear some of the doctrines these men profess, it leaves cause for worry if they are the ones who should determine how our beloved country should be governed. Heck, we may end up with biblical, Abrahamic or Mosaic law; or Sharia law for that matter.
Throw in the rather worrying development of slowly but surely minimizing the importance of our cultural and traditional practices at national events. For some time now, we as a country seem to be comfortable with Christian and Muslim prayers being said during state events, without provision made for libation or traditional prayers to be said.
Also, the sickening phenomenon of broadcasters and show hosts serving a steaming portion of doctrinal BS; claiming some ecclesiastical incidents that only they are privy to has also gained root. And to me, that’s the most worrying part. Because if the preachers are preaching it is up to me to accept or reject their doctrine. But if issues bordering on the governance of the nation are convoluted with surreal references, then may GOD help us all.
After all, didn’t He, God, give us the wisdom to manage our own affairs?
So… I ask, how much God should be in our governance?
My name is Kwesi E. Baako, i come in Peace, I come not to please. This has been D’Editorial.