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Society must kick against wrongdoing – Catholic Bishop
Very Rev Fr Dr Boampong Sarfo Jnr
A member of the Catholic Bishop’s Conference, Very Rev. Fr. Dr Charles Boampong has bemoaned the acceptance of wrongdoing in the society as a norm.
He said it was unfortunate that the wrong things in society were gradually being embraced and applauded and are not considered as abnormal anymore.
Very Rev Fr. Dr. Charles Boampong Sarfo Jnr, an Assistant General Secretary of the National Catholic Secretariat of the Conference made the observation in his homily last Sunday at the St. Augustine Catholic Church in Ashaiman on Vocation Sunday.
Vocation Sunday is also known as ‘exchange of pulpit’ day, a day where priests move from their original parishes to other parishes or stations to celebrate Mass, socialise and mingle with the faithful.
According to him, workers for instance would report to work late but would write a different time in an attendance book to suggest they reported earlier.
“The same applies with those that leave the work place very early but record times that suggest they left the office late. Such practices must not be entertained at all. It is a clear case of dishonesty,” he noted.
“When you report to work late, write the exact time you got to work and when you left. If you do not go to work, don’t say you did,” Rev Dr Sarfo told the congregation.
He said what makes the attitude very serious was the fact that many of the culprits of such practices were Christians who are supposed to live by example and go by the dictates Jesus Christ sets for his followers.
He observed that “there are persons who called themselves Christians yet would demand bribe from people before they discharged the duties for which they are paid at the end of the month.”
That attitude, he pointed out was not just ‘unchristian’ but also unpatriotic and hampers the development of the country.
He encouraged the parishioners to work with their hearts because in that, they would find fulfilment.
The Assistant General Secretary said faithfulness was key in the life of a Christian and they should be a light wherever they found themselves so that their actions would win more souls for Christ.
He lamented a situation where persons who were entrusted with other people’s properties maintained them poorly or do not take good care of them at all.
He observed that some people would even inflate the prices of items meant for maintenance so that they could make money out of it for themselves.
He stated that sadly, some people thought that was being smart but what they fail to see was that they were working at their own destruction.
From Dzifa Tetteh Tay, Ashaiman
Ghana’s First Lady, Lordina Mahama, has made a generous donation to the country’s national female Under-17 and Under-20 teams – Black Maidens and Black Princesses- as they continue preparations for major international assignments.
The donation, made on Friday, May 22, was presented on behalf of the First Lady by the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, at the GFA Technical Centre in Prampram.
The gesture forms part of efforts to motivate and support Ghana’s young female footballers as they prepare to represent the country on the international stage.
The donation included essential food items and toiletries aimed at supporting the welfare and well-being of the players and technical teams.
The donation included cartons of Milo, T-rolls, soft drinks, toiletries, and a range of essential supplies aimed at supporting the welfare of the players, enhancing camp conditions, and easing preparations ahead of their respective assignments.
The Black Maidens are currently engaged in preparations for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup qualifiers and are set to take on Liberia women’s national under-17 football team in the second-leg encounter in Liberia this weekend.
Meanwhile, the Black Princesses have already secured qualification to the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup after overcoming Uganda in the qualifiers, extending Ghana’s remarkable record to eight consecutive appearances at the tournament.
The donation by the First Lady was expected to boost morale within both camps while reinforcing national support for the young female footballers who continue to make the country proud.
The prosecution has officially rested its case in The Republic v Solomon Asamoah & Another, the high-profile legal battle commonly referred to as the “Sky Train” case.
The Deputy Attorney General Justice Srem Sai announced the development, praising the state’s team of hard-working prosecutors for successfully anchoring the state’s evidence before the High Court.
The criminal trial centers on the former Chief Executive Officer and the former Board Chairman of the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund (GIIF).
The duo stands accused of illegally authorizing and paying out US$2 million to a foreign company without obtaining board directives or other mandatory statutory approvals.
State investigators have confirmed that the disbursed millions cannot be found.
Following the closure of the prosecution’s case, the accused persons moved the court for an opportunity to file a submission of no case.
The presiding judge granted the application, ordering the defense to submit their arguments by June 8.
The outcome of the June 8 filings will decide the fate of the trial:
With this, if the judge finds the defense’s submission convincing, the accused will be acquitted and discharged however, If the judge dismisses the submission, the court will order the accused officials to take the stand and explain why they should not face prison sentences.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
