Prez Mahama apologises to Presby moderator; calls for cease fire

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Created on Saturday, 15 September 2012 00:00

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Prez Mahama apologises to Presby moderator; calls for cease fire

14 September 2012

President John Mahama has apologized to the Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana following days of heated exchanges between some executives of the ruling party on one hand and the Public Relations Officer of the church on the other.

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The Church impressed upon the Electoral Commission to reconsider the creation of the 45 new constituencies which has become an object of controversy ahead of the December elections.

But the ruling party was unimpressed. Its General Secretary Johnson Asiedu Nketia accused the party of being in bed with the opposition party.

He questioned why the church must get itself involved in the controversial matter.

The The Central Regional Director of Communication of the NDC Allotey Jacobs also waded into the controversy accusing the church of finding their voices only when the NDC is in government.

He said the leaders of the church have been compromised.

Another member of the church and boss of the Free Zones Board Kojo Twum Boafo resigned from the church accusing the leadership of dabbling in politics.

But the church did not take kindly to the accusations. Its PRO Mr Emanuel Osei Akyeampong described the comments as irresponsible.

He said the two gentlemen were either being ignorant or mischievous about their comments, stating the Church criticized the passage of the ROPAL under the erstwhile Kufuor administration.

He wondered if the General Secretary’s comments were made under the influence of alcohol, a statement he later came to apologise for.

But addressing the chiefs and people of the Akuapem Traditional area during the Odwira festival, President Mahama called for ceasefire.

He said he was born into the Presby church but moved to the Assemblies of God Church by virtue of his marriage.

He said he has called upon all those who have resigned from the church to return.

“I want to apologise to the Moderator, Rev Martey and ask him and the church and also the NDC part to cease fire in respect of the exchanges that have been going on,” he said.

The President also urged Ghanaians to allow state institutions to work and take a decision over the creation of the 45 constituencies and promised to superintend over a free and fair elections.

The festival also had flag bearer of the opposition NPP, Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo Addo in attendance.

From:Nathan Gadugah/Myjoyonline.com