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Be honest, truthful to constituents …Catholic Priest tells politicians
● Very Rev Fr. Dr. Ennin
The Provincial Superior for the Society of African Missions (SMA), Very Rev Fr Dr Paul Saa-Dade Ennin has urged politicians to be honest in the discharge of their duties to the country if they want to be celebrated like the country’s first President, Dr Kwame Nkrumah.
Fr Ennin, who doubles as President of the Conference of Major Superiors of West Africa, said it was important for the politicians to think of the next generation if they wished to be celebrated.
“We’ll continue to talk about Kwame Nkrumah because even today, we cannot point at his properties or personal gains. Rather, we hear of the good deeds of Kwame Nkrumah in Ghana and the continent of Africa at large.”
Speaking with The Spectator, Very Rev Fr Dr. Ennin observed that it was important for the politicians to do what will benefit the society and country and not their selfish interests.
“No matter how much you accumulate, as long as you do not help others, you will gain no dignity” he said and advised that politicians should always work to make the resources of the state accessible to all to improve lives.
The Provincial Superior said it was sad that politicians came campaigning to be of service to their people but when they were voted into office, they become something else.
He said the gospel states that “to whom much is given, much is expected” and so it was sad that when politicians came campaigning to be of service to their people, some ended up rather being a disservice to the people.
“Some of these politicians are actually not what they claim to be because they don’t think of their plight or how to make their lives better.”
Making reference to the readings in Isaiah 22:19-23, he said God had to remove and demote a government official because at the time of existential threat to his people, he was more concerned about wealth acquisition which God was unhappy about.
Very Rev Fr Dr Ennin said God made a replacement with someone else to be a father to his people and govern according to God’s plans.
He said God also entrusted the keys of His Kingdom to Peter in Mathew 16:13-20 of the Gospel to ensure that Peter became the rock, an access and avenue to His grace, goodness, mercy, resources and all other good things.
He said as the clergy, they were supposed to be accessible to those entrusted to their care and mentor them to do what was right because at the end of their service, they would be judged accordingly.
He advised Christians to make themselves available to the service to God just as Mary, the Patron Saint did and been celebrated for many years.
By Dzifa Tetteh Tay