Vice President Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang has called on the Church to protect its moral authority by remaining independent of partisan politics and consistently speaking out against corruption, injustice and abuse, regardless of which political party is in power.

She made the call while delivering the keynote address at the Accra Ridge Church’s 90th Anniversary Lecture II in Accra on Wednesday July 15, 2026.

Prof. Opoku-Agyemang stressed that the Church’s guidance to government should go beyond the tenure of any administration and should not be influenced by political party interests.

“The Church’s counsel to government must outlast any single administration or party colour. Speak on principle, not on partisanship,” she said.

According to her, the Church risks losing public trust if it becomes closely aligned with any political party.

She noted that corruption, injustice and abuse should always concern the Church, irrespective of which government is in office.

The Vice President also encouraged religious leaders to know when to offer private advice to government and when to speak publicly on national issues.

“Wisdom lies in knowing which moment calls for which voice,” she stated.

She added that government must also avoid seeking the Church’s approval simply to gain public support instead of accepting constructive criticism.

Prof. Opoku-Agyemang further highlighted Ghana’s religious diversity, describing the country’s peaceful coexistence among Christians, Muslims, traditionalists and people of other beliefs as one of its greatest strengths.

She said generations of leaders had preserved this harmony by choosing cooperation over division and by putting the national interest first.

The Vice President added that protecting free and fair elections, upholding the rule of law, defending freedom of conscience and safeguarding vulnerable people are national responsibilities that should never be treated as partisan issues.

By: Jacob Aggrey

Minister for Education Haruna Iddrisu has questioned why Ghana continues to import toothpicks despite having the resources to produce them locally.

Speaking in Parliament, Mr. Iddrisu, who previously served as Minister for Trade and Industry, said he feels ashamed that the country still depends on imports for such a basic product.

“I have been Minister for Trade and Industry before and I carry the shame. How come that in Ghana we cannot produce toothpicks and we have to import them?” he asked.

According to him, Ghana has enough resources to support local businesses to manufacture products such as toothpicks instead of relying on imports. He said the country should encourage private sector investment in manufacturing to create jobs and reduce dependence on foreign goods.

Mr. Iddrisu alleged that some people who received government support under private sector initiatives failed to use the funds for their intended purpose.

“If you want, Honorable Kojo, because you… I can’t go there. There are people who took money in the name of the private sector and said they were going to farm. That money never went to their farms. You know that,” he told Parliament.

On job creation, the Education Minister said he agreed with the views expressed by a colleague on the need to create more employment opportunities. However, he argued that the One District, One Factory (1D1F) programme did not provide the solution to Ghana’s employment challenges.

Mr. Iddrisu made the remarks during parliamentary proceedings while contributing to discussions on job creation and the country’s industrial development.

By: Jacob Aggrey