Deputy Minister of Education, Rev. John Ntim Fordjour, has urged for the avoidance of religious stereotypes in Ghana’s political landscape.
He emphasised that God does not show favoritism but appoints leaders for specific periods in the lives of his people.
In a post on X his platform on Thursday, the Assin South Member of Parliament (MP) expressed his belief that Ghana will thrive under the leadership of the New Patriotic Party (NPP)’s flagbearer, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, if elected as President in the upcoming December 2024 elections.
He asserted that Dr. Bawumia would serve as a superior president for the country compared to the National Democratic Congress’ flagbearer, John Dramani Mahama.
“Yesterday I joined the Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia to cut sod for the construction of 4 storey, 200-bed capacity hostel for Trinity Theological Seminary in Accra. The contribution of Christian institutions to Ghana’s development was acknowledged by His Excellency Dr Bawumia as enormous and therefore envisions stronger partnerships with faith-based institutions under his tenure to propel the nation’s progress.”
Yesterday I joined the Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia @MBawumia to cut sod for the construction of 4 storey, 200 bed capacity hostel for Trinity Theological Seminary in Accra. The contribution of Christian institutions to Ghana’s development was acknowledged by His Excellency… pic.twitter.com/mnVfpoIiEu
— John Ntim Fordjour MP (@NtimFordjour) April 4, 2024
“Let us eschew religious stereotyping in politics, as God is no respecter of persons. God will prosper Ghana under the Presidency of Dr Mahamudu Bawumia,” the Deputy Minister tweeted.
The remarks by Rev. Fordjour, the MP for Assin South was seeemingly addressing the comment by the independent presidential candidate Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen, who stated that Ghanaians should pick a Christian president due to the country’s Christian majority.
Speaking at the Dr. Thomas Wyatt Assembly for the Church of Pentecost’s Easter Sunday Convention, Mr. Kyerematen emphasized that it was the duty of Ghanaians to select a Christian leader who was also Christlike, positioning himself as the ideal candidate.
“If God touches your heart and you vote for Alan Kyrematen, the transformative leader, then I can assure you, as our Lord Jesus did on the cross, promise that ye shall be in paradise with him; you shall also be in paradise when I come into power,” he added.
Members of both major parties have heavily criticized the comments, describing them as an affront to the religious freedom and tolerance the country has enjoyed over the years.