Editor-in-Chief of the Insight newspaper, Kwesi Pratt Jnr., has fired shots at the former presiding Methodist Bishop of the Obuasi Diocese, Rev. Rev. Bosomtwe Ayensu Bosomtwe Ayensu over what is said to be the latter's scorn against former President John Dramani Mahama.
The Methodist Bishop scolded the 2020 Presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Mahama, after he (Mahama) rebuked the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia administration.
Mahama To Repeal E-Levy
Mr. Mahama stated; “On the economic front, Nana AKufo Addo and the NPP pledged to transform Ghana within 18 months, grow our economy at double digit, reduce borrowing, ensure fiscal discipline, bring down the cost of living, lower taxes and protect the public purse. They promised also to move Ghana from taxation to production. In effect, none of these has been achieved. Instead, Ghanaians have been subjected to excruciating hardship and deprivation, resulting directly from the mismanagement of the economy by a government that lacks the humility to accept responsibility and the capacity to appropriately diagnose the root causes of the challenges that have brought us here.”
He also promised to repeal the government's Electronic Transaction Levy (E-Levy) should he become President of Ghana in 2025.
"A new National Democratic Congress government, God willing and with the votes of the sovereign people of Ghana – in 2025 – will repeal the E-Levy Act. Even as this government remains fixated with taxing their way out of economic mismanagement, the Akufo-Addo government has been wasteful. They have failed to demonstrate prudence in public financial management. The people of Ghana cannot be called upon to pay more taxes only for the accruing money belonging to the people of Ghana, to be dubiously and wastefully shared among family and friends through various fraudulent procurement practices."
Mr. Mahama said these while delivering a public lecture at Kempinski Hotel on May 2, 2022.
Methodist Bishop Scolds Mahama
The Methodist Bishop seemingly wished Mr. Mahama doesn't win the 2024 elections to have an opportunity to repeal the E-Levy.
In response to the Ex-President's remarks, the Bishop said; "A leading opposition party says this government has been borrowing to fund projects. But it [the government] has been strategic this time to introduce this homegrown policy to build our nation. So if someone says he will repeal this law when he wins power then such a person will not even win power to abort it."
“If the E-levy is a good policy why will you abolish it? Such people can’t even do it because history keeps guiding us. Such comments usually end up as a political talk and deceit,” he added.
Pratt Replies Bishop
Kwesi Pratt Jnr., speaking on Peace FM's 'Kokrokoo' programme, berated Rev. Bosomtwe Ayensu stating his comments smacked of partisan politics.
He noted that, as a religious leader, it's very unacceptable to claim a candidate won't win elections explaining that he (Rev. Bosomtwe Ayensu) and all Pastors lead a congregation comprising people with different political affiliations.
Citing the constitution barring Chiefs from engaging in partisan politics because they serve as unifiers, he wished the Bishop had equally abstained from making such comments about the former President.
" . . If we hear that the Inspector General of Police has opened his mouth to say that we should vote for Bawumia in the next elections, what will be our reply to the Inspector General of Police? . . . if we hear the Chief Justice saying we should vote for Kofi Apraku in the elections, what will we tell the Chief Justice?" he asked.
He says Religious leaders are in similar positions as the IGP and Chief Justice.
"Those coming to worship don't come for the politics of the Priest, they come for spiritual guidance," he said.
Watch video below
Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana
Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. |
When Mahama said the clergy have become silent on issues of bad governance, corruption etc., what did Pratt say? Why did you not tell Mahama that the clergy are not expected to dabble in politics? You saw nothing wrong with that, now a bishop has said something, and because it is against the person you support, you are saying all these things. If the bishop had said similar things about Nana Addo, you would have been hailing him as a brave person. Bit hypocrite. And by the way, the bishop did not say people should vote or not vote for somebody. Why are you using examples that do not reflect what the bishop said?
What is politics and how does it affect the people including the clergy? You have made politics SOOOOOO DIRTY with insults and stealing such that dissent men/women can not contribute to its development! Shame on you Kwasi Pratt and people like you!
Your level of hypocrisy , & Sycophancy is indeed INFINITE
P/NDC informant Kwesi
Mr know all