Report by: Ishmael Barfi
The Ghana Journalist Association (GJA) President,Mr. Albert Kwabena Dwufour has urged leaders of faith-based organizations to lead the way in shaping the nation’s moral vision by using their pulpits, media, and other platforms to preach virtue.
According to him, they have a national duty to instill moral values in their members through their sermons in efforts to restore discipline and patriotism, hence building national unity for development.
“They should desist from using their pulpits to trade insults, sometimes in despicable and vulgar language”, he reiterated.
The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) President Albert Kwabena Dwufour made this passionate worded call at the National Development Conference 2023.
The two-day conference organized by the Church of Pentecost at the Pentecost Convention Centre, Gomoa Fetteh in the Central region on July 26, 2023 under the theme: “Moral vision and national development”.
Her Ladyship Justice Getrude Araba Sackey Torkoenoo & Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin
The GJA President noted that, there is need to hear the loud voice of the Church and other religious bodies on issues of corruption, injustice, human rights abuse, impunity, and other vices in society.
“Furthermore, we expect the Church and other faith-based organsations to be the centerpiece of the country’s development through their active participation in the national development process”.
It is in this regard, Mr. Albert Kwabena Dwufour acknowledged the continuous efforts and contributions of the Church of Pentecost hence praised the church for organizing such tremendous gathering to discuss issues of morality and national development.
“Apostle Chairman, I wish to congratulate the Church of Pentecost for organising the National Development Conference which brings together key stakeholders to discuss the moral vision and development of the country.
This he noted is a step in the right direction and clear proof that the Church is an institution that operates both in faith and action.
Chairman, The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Eric Nyamekye
The GJA President applauded the Church of Pentecost pointing out that, “Apostle Chairman, the Church of Pentecost International has spearheaded numerous development-focused initiatives over the years; however, the church’s National Development Conference is a monumental advance”.
He therefore acknowledged the church as the Fifth Estate of Ream coming after the media whose credential in governance structure has long been established given the role the Church as an institution has played in national development over the years.
The theme for the conference: “Moral vision and national development” according to Mr. Dwufour is most appropriate considering the need to pursue a vigorous national development agenda and reshape the moral vision of the country.
“We may not have empirical evidence, but we are fortified in discernment to firmly hold that the nation’s moral fabric is fast decaying and the consequence thereof is an erosion of national development. Corruption, indiscipline, impunity, disrespectfulness and greed have seized our moral consciousness”, he asserted.
Former Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah
Hence the need a renewal of our moral awareness and vision as a nation, which he assured the entire nation that the media will play a positive role to help renew the moral vision of the nation and also promote national development.
Indeed, the media he noted have been playing this role over the years as constitutionally mandated therefore urged the media to rise to the challenge and be responsible in the discharge of their duties stressing “ I believes we can do more and better”
He also expressed worry over attacks on the media in discharging their constitutional mandate latterly.
“However, Apostle Chairman, in discharging our constitutional mandate, the media will necessarily expose corruption and other ills of society. Such exposes are normally not palatable to the elements involved. But no matter how displeased anybody may be about the work of the media they cannot resolve their grievances through assault”, the GJA President reiterated.
Stressing “Even in instances where the media get it wrong or do anything untoward, resorting to assault is not an option under the rule of law”.
For the media to discharge their mandate effectively towards promoting the nation’s moral vision and development, there would be the need for all stakeholders to support.
“In so doing, we must refrain from attacking media practitioners because there is no justification whatsoever to do so. And where such attacks unfortunately occur, we must roundly condemn the perpetrators”, he emphasized.
Adding “We expect the Executive and Parliament to condemn attacks against journalists and press freedom. And we expect the Judiciary to severely punish offenders to serve as deterrent to others. This will greatly help the media to discharge their mandate effectively”.
Source: www.thenewindependentonline.com
