Story by Lawrence Odoom/Phalonzy
The distinguished Chancellor of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences and Social Sciences, His Eminence Cardinal Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson, has issued a clarion call for Ghanaian clergy and government appointees to synergize their efforts with President John Dramani Mahama in propelling national development.
This impassioned appeal was made in the context of the inaugural National Day of Prayer, a landmark initiative designed to foster spiritual introspection, national cohesion, and revitalized hope amidst Ghana’s prevailing socio-economic challenges.
The National Day of Prayer, observed on July 1, brought together a diverse array of religious leaders, political luminaries, civil society organizations, and citizens in a poignant display of interfaith solidarity.
The event featured soul-stirring interfaith prayers focused on peace, economic revitalization, moral rejuvenation, and unity, underscoring the pivotal role that spirituality can play in shaping Ghana’s trajectory.
Speaking on Channel One TV’s The Point of View with Bernard Avle, Cardinal Turkson emphasized the imperative of maintaining a robust and united rapport between the clergy and the President.
“For me, it was important to recognize that all the team that helped the President to do all of this [National Day of Prayer], must recognize their own unity with the President,” he said.
Cardinal Turkson cautioned that both clergy and government appointees must contextualize their responsibilities in relation to the President’s leadership to ensure coherence in governance and national direction. “Ministers [clergy] must recognize that what they do attains meaning and significance only in relationship with the leader [Mahama],” he said. “And so, that point is important for ministers who collaborate with the President to recognize. We do this by sharing in his spirit.”
He added that this unity is essential for efficacious governance and national progress, saying, “And in so doing, there must be harmony, communication, whatever adjective you want to use. That union must be there. It’s not each one going his way, otherwise it’s not a united form of governance.”
Undoubtedly, by underscoring the need for synergy and collaboration, Cardinal Turkson has highlighted the critical role that clergy and government appointees can play in supporting President Mahama’s vision for Ghana’s development, thereby fostering growth for the country.
