A Communiqué from the just-ended maiden edition of the National Development Conference has lamented the decaying nature of moral issues in the country and its impact on national development.
Held at the Pentecost Convention Centre (PCC) from 26th -27th July 2023, at Kasoa in the Central region, the conference argued, on corruption, for instance, that voices of non-state actors including Faith Based Organisations (FBOs), Traditional Authorities, Media, CSOs and interest groups etc., have not been audible enough in the fight against corruption, impunity, and injustice in our society.
The Conference hosted over 2000 stakeholders from religious groups, traditional authorities, crème dela crème of political parties’ representatives, media, and other professional bodies.
“We recommend the establishment of a National Moral and Integrity Council (NMIC) with the stature like that of the Peace Council to begin a process of restoration of generations of decay and moral decadence that Ghana has experienced over the years,” the Communiqué signed by the conference chair on behalf of participants, Apostle Eric Kwabena Nyamekye, who is also the Chairman of the Church of Pentecost, said.
Read below the full unedited Communiqué:
COMMUNIQUE ON THE FIRST EVER NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE ON THE THEME ‘MORAL VISION AND NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT’ HELD AT THE PENTECOST CONVENTION CENTRE (PCC) FROM 26TH -27TH JULY 2023.
We, the over 2000 stakeholders drawn from a broad spectrum of the Ghanaian society (Religious groups, Traditional Authorities, Political Parties, Media, Professional Bodies, CSOs, Clergy etc.), met at the PCC, Gomoa Fetteh under the auspices of the Church of Pentecost(CoP) to develop the first ever Moral Vision Plan to inform Ghana’s development agenda between 26th and 27th July, 2023.
Having taken cognisance of the decaying nature of moral issues in Ghana a its impact on national development, and disheartened by the short-sightedness of policy development and implementation, rooted in partisan party manifestos instead of generational planning observe as follows:
1. That, the moral character of the nation has dipped, as evidenced in the increasingly inefficient leadership at all levels (such as family, Chieftaincy, religious, political etc.), degradation of the environment, lack of integrity, disrespect in public discourse, corruption, lack of patriotism and volunteerism in Ghana;
2. Ghana has over 90% of our population being religious yet the impact of historical responsibility placed on religious bodies and other non-state actors to shape the moral character and development of the nation continues to suffer;
3. That unless we move away from the current status quo to a one that anchors an environment hostile to all forms of corruption and excesses, we cannot reverse the downward trend of moral decadence we continue to witness in our country;
4. The absence of integrated moral values in our educational and social systems is producing dishonest intellectuals instead of citizens with moral and patriotic values;
5. The continued erosion of Ghanaian values and westernisation of our culture manifesting in the loss of confidence in our time-tested culture continue to be a worry;
6. Though we have enacted various laws, we need citizens with the requisite moral character to implement these laws in the form and manner required by society;
7. That Political leadership has failed to respect the principles of inter-generational equity and sustainable development in our development equation;
8. That the media is abdicating its watchdog role, due to the excessive politicization and ownership structure of media houses; and,
9. Realising that the issues of law, equity and good conscience provided for in our constitution is gradually missing from our development equation.
Having come to the realisation that morality is not subjective but having an objective appeal which must sit with the letter and spirit of our Constitution,
We recognize:
1. That, the voices of non-state actors including Faith Based Organisations (FBOs), Traditional Authorities, Media, CSOs and interest groups etc., have not been audible enough in the fight against corruption, impunity and injustice in our society;
2. What we urgently need now are leaders with the moral conscience of the state who would carry through the development of our nation in a sustainable manner.
To achieve the total development and the urgent need to restore the authentic Ghanaian value system, we recommend and commit to the following:
1. Establishment of a National Moral and Integrity Council (NMIC) with the stature like that of the Peace Council to begin a process of restoration of generations of decay and moral decadence that Ghana has experienced over the years;
2. Undertake a vigorous national integrity campaign to sharpen the moral consciousness of Ghanaians;
3. That this National Moral Vision Development Conference be held periodically (annually) to engage with stakeholders on the issue of moral vision and its impact on the development of our country;
4. That all spheres of leadership including traditional, religious as well as political leadership be re-oriented in a national transformation agenda premised on high moral values;
5. To put in place an intentional, systematic, formal and non-formal training for political leaders to ensure they are continuously groomed in their roles;
6. The urgent development and implementation of a national moral re-orientation programme for the citizens particularly the youth;
7. Mainstream media accountability into our development agenda, by developing a Charter to sanitize the media space as part of the overall national moral vision plan to be developed;
8. Patriotism must be at the heart of all private and public engagements and must receive attention in the curricula of our educational, professional and vocational institutions. This must be reflected in all media contents, national priority directions and policy making decisions for the nation;
9. We urge for the commencement of a vigorous national campaign along the lines of “Operation Feed Yourself” in the mid 1970’s, for the inculcation of moral values of patriotism, hard work, integrity, love for country, country first and excellence in every sector of the Ghanaian society; and,
10. Finally, we recommend the setting up of a multi-electoral team facilitated by the Faith Based Organisation (FBOs) to continuously engage the NCCE, CHRAJ, and other relevant stakeholders to actualise the National Moral Vision Plan.
Ghana can work again and we must make it work!
We believe this conference will be the watershed for moral, ethical and sound re-awakening for Ghanaians and Africa.
Ghana must be the last best hope for Africa to re-awaken our morals in development.
SIGNED BY THE CONFERENCE CHAIR ON BEHALF OF PARTICIPANTS
_____________________
Apostle Eric Kwabena Nyamekye
Chairman, The Church of Pentecost
President, Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council of Churches (GPCC)
