Features
Corruption and hypocrisy Part 1
I have been thinking a lot about the fight against corruption and what needs to be done to really make it a very expensive and unattractive venture. When watching a news item, an issue that had been floating in my thoughts suddenly came into sharp focus.
The inclusion of Chief Directors and Pastors on the list of organisations and institutions that are considered under the CPI. There are a lot of charlatans parading around as ministers of the Gospel. The funny thing is that, they hypocritically chastise the government and politicians as corrupt. You hear them, on the airwaves and from their pulpit they are merciless.
Meanwhile you often hear them quoting, “Touch not my anointed and do my prophets no harm” in a bid to scare church members from commenting on their corrupt and immoral behaviour.
I know Chief Directors fall under civil and public servants but I would like to have them listed separately to put a focus on them. Politicians are always condemned as corrupt but I dare say no politician can ‘chop’ public funds without the connivance of a Chief Director.
What such Pastors should realise is that the principles of God have been established by his word and so whatsoever a man sows that shall he reap.
This brings to mind a funny story of a Pastor and his Elder who, contrary to the teachings of the Bible, were wallowing in adultery like a hobby.
One day, an argument ensued between them so they decided to determine who the champion womanizer was. It was agreed between them that when the ladies in the church come to dance during the ‘collection’ time, the determination will be made.
Pastor was to say “tin” and Elder was to say “tan” when a lady drops her offering into the offertory bowl. The time came for the offertory and the hypocrisy of holiness played out with the men only in single file coming to give their offering.
Then it was the turn of the ladies and the secret unholy and disgusting competition between the Pastor and the Elder of the church, began.
The first person was the Women Fellowship leader and as she approached the offertory bowl, the Pastor said “tin” meaning he had slept with her. The second lady was her deputy and Elder was eager to show his power and also said “tan”. This “tin”, “tan”, “tin” “tin”, “tan” “tan”, “tin”, “tan”, “tin” went on for quite a while till a few ladies were left.
Then came ‘Osofo Maame’ and her three children (young ladies). As they approached the offertory bowl Elder said, ”tan”, “tan”, “tan” and the Pastor got up from his seat and rushed towards the Elder.
The Elder saw the look in his Pastor’s eyes was pure vengeance. He immediately realised that this was not a visitation of the Holy Spirit and he must get away before destruction befalls him. He jumped out of his seat and ran towards the nearest door with the Pastor chasing after him.
The confused church members seeing their Elder, followed by their ‘spiritually powerful’ Pastor, thought something evil had come into the church to attack so they also ran for their dear lives.
When they later saw the Pastor some metres away from the church exchanging blows with his Elder, they realised it was a personal issue and not any evil force coming against them.
When the Pastor was sleeping with other peoples wives, he thought he was smart and never dreamt that the same thing will be done to him. Whoever deprives the general populace of adequate services by corruptly amassing wealth will one day pay for it in one way or the other.
By Laud Kissi-Mensah
One of the issues we have been grappling with as a nation is corruption, and it has had such a devastating effect on our national development. I have been convinced that until morality becomes the foundation upon which our governance system is built, we can never go forward as a nation.
Our traditional practices, which have shaped our cultural beliefs, have always espoused values that have kept us along the straight and the narrow and have preserved our societies since ancient times.
These are values that frown on negative habits like stealing, cheating, greediness, selfishness, etc. Our grandparents have told us stories of societies where stealing was regarded as so shameful that offenders, when caught, have on a number of instances committed suicide.
In fact, my mother told me of a story where a man who was living in the same village as her mother (my grandmother), after having been caught stealing a neighbour’s cockerel, out of shame committed suicide on a mango tree. Those were the days that shameful acts were an abomination.
Tegare worship, a traditional spiritual worship during which the spirit possesses the Tegare Priest and begins to reveal secrets, was one of the means by which the society upheld African values in the days of my grandmother and the early childhood days of my mother.
Those were the days when the fear of being killed by Tegare prevented people from engaging in anti-social vices. These days, people sleeping with other people’s wives are not uncommon.
These wrongful behaviour was not countenanced at all by Tegare. One was likely going to lose his life on days that Tegare operates, and so unhealthy habits like coveting your neighbour’s wife was a taboo.
Stealing of other people’s farm produce, for instance, could mean certain death or incapacitation of the whole or part of the body in the full glare of everybody. People realised that there were consequences for wrongdoing, and this went a long way to motivate the society to adhere to right values.
Imagine a President being sworn into office and whoever administers the oath says, “Please say this after me: I, Mr. …., do solemnly swear by God, the spirits of my ancestors and the spirits ruling in Ghana, that should I engage in corrupt acts, may I and my family become crippled, may madness become entrenched in my family, may incurable sicknesses and diseases be my portion and that of my family, both immediate and extended.”
Can you imagine a situation where a few weeks afterwards the President goes to engage in corrupt acts and we hear of his sudden demise or incapacitation and confessing that he engaged in corrupt acts before passing or before the incapacitation—and the effect it will have on his successor? I believe we have to critically examine this option to curb corruption.
My grandmother gave me an eyewitness account of one such encounter where a woman died instantly after the Tegare Priest had revealed a wrong attitude she had displayed during the performance on one of the days scheduled for Tegare spirit manifestation.
According to her story, the Priest, after he had been possessed by the spirit, declared that for what the woman had done, he would not forgive her and that he would kill. Instantly, according to my grandmother, the lady fell down suddenly and she died—just like what happened to Ananias and his wife Sapphira in Acts Chapter 5.
NB: ‘CHANGE KOTOKA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT TO KOFI BAAKO
By Laud Kissi-Mensah
Join our WhatsApp Channel now!
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbBElzjInlqHhl1aTU27
Emotional distortions can indeed have a profound impact on an individual’s mental health and well-being. These distortions can lead to a range of negative consequences, including anxiety, depression, and impaired relationships.
Emotional surgery is a therapeutic approach that aims to address and heal emotional wounds, traumas, and blockages. This approach recognises that emotional pain can have a profound impact on an individual’s quality of life and seeks to provide a comprehensive and compassionate approach to healing.
How emotional surgery can help
Emotional surgery can help individuals:
Identify and challenge negative thought patterns: By becoming aware of emotional distortions, individuals can learn to challenge and reframe negative thoughts.
Develop greater emotional resilience: Emotional surgery can help individuals develop the skills and strategies needed to manage their emotions and respond to challenging situations.
Improve relationships: By addressing emotional wounds and promoting emotional well-being, individuals can develop more positive and healthy relationships with others.
The benefits of emotional surgery
The benefits of emotional surgery can include:
Improved mental health outcomes: Emotional surgery can help individuals reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression.
Enhanced relationships: Emotional surgery can help individuals develop more positive and healthy relationships with others.
Increased self-awareness: Emotional surgery can help individuals develop a deeper understanding of themselves and their emotions.
A path towards healing
Emotional surgery offers a promising approach to addressing emotional distortions and promoting emotional well-being. By acknowledging the impact of emotional pain and seeking to provide a comprehensive and compassionate approach to healing, individuals can take the first step towards recovery and improved mental health.
Join our WhatsApp Channel now!
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbBElzjInlqHhl1aTU27
BY ROBERT EKOW GRIMMOND-THOMPSON
