THEME: MATERIALISM BREEDS CORRUPTION; GOD’S TRUTH BRINGS NATIONAL LIBERATION 

Recently, we have been struck and been very disturbed by the rising and overwhelming trend of corruption, greed and wickedness in the land. In every corner, every sphere and every sector of life and activity in the country, the evil forces of corruption, greed and wickedness have virtually become the pervading spirit, the mode of operation in transactions, activities and conduct in general.  This is not just a sad development from the moral point of view.  It is a development which without doubt will have a devastating effect on the development and progress of the country, the quality of life, and above all the character, culture and spirit of the Ghanaian. 

We do not need spiritual insight and history to tell us the devastating effect and dangers ahead for the nation if we allow these evil forces to become the mode of conduct, the standard of life and character of the Ghanaian. Developments and the state of confusion, instability, distress, pain, blood flow and death in our neigbouring countries and other parts of the world are there for everybody to see, for those who care and those who do not care alike. 

The Politician, Public Servant, Business and Military fraternity that promote, bathe in and supervise these evil forces may wish to consider the real impact and unintended consequences of their conduct. Similarly, lawyers, judges and policemen who do not care about justice, peace and tranquility in the land and who have set aside the dictum of conscience in the judicial process may wish to be reminded that whatever happens justice will have its course. 

GOD the Creator, the Sovereign and Supreme Being who reigns and rules by righteousness, judgement and justice has the last say. Time and space cannot impose any limitations on the Living God, Father of Jesus Christ. No one robs his fellow man, and destabilizes the peace, progress and prosperity and destiny of peoples/society and go scot-free.  Judgement has already been pronounced against such conduct (Psalm 37).  They prosper who love their fellow men and seek the peace, prosperity and good of society (Ps. 122:6-9). 

It is very refreshing in this respect the worries and concerns expressed by Captain Kojo Tsikata (Rtd) on the murder of the three judges and his fellow military officer at the NRC.  God, Justice and Conscience cannot be so easily dismissed. God is omnipresent, omnipotent and omniscient.  His ways pass finding out. Now then, what part do Teachers, Tutors and Lecturers in schools, colleges, and the universities and their professional and institutional colleagues, Registrars and Accountants, Bursars and Matrons, PTA Chairmen, contractors and all play in the spread of the three evil forces in the land. The spirit of corruption, greed and wickedness has spread into the activities, the affairs and conduct of students and their leaders, and in their dealings with outsiders. 

It is very sad in this respect that many student leaders go into politics and the professions. It is they that raise higher the stakes of corruption, greed and wickedness in society. From their ranks are they who abuse and misuse power and oppress the people with impunity. Shit politics, corrupt and dishonest practices in the inky fraternity and the professions, the wicked manipulation of rules and regulations to cause harm, rob and deny rights and perpetuate evil, these and many others are the product of disjointed and dysfunctional educational policies, management practices and leadership modes in practice in the educational institutions in the land. Most people have bowed to corrupt, immoral and wicked practices. 

The extent to which corruption, greed and wickedness have eaten deep into and frozen the moral fibre of people and nation, and the conduct and culture of our people can also be seen with reference to the proliferation of chieftaincy and land disputes, with their attendant armed violence, land guards and mounting and protracted court cases. 

It is not just that Honesty, Righteousness and Justice have been dislodged from the minds, hearts and culture of the people, violent and armed behaviour, might and wickedness have virtually become an overriding and ruling spirit and conduct in affairs in the land.  Most people have bowed to corrupt, immoral and wicked practices. It is not surprising in this respect if landlords demand three years advance to complete a house for the tenant, only to eject the tenant before or at the expiry of the period for which advance payment had been made and give the house to another person for higher rent and fresh advance payment.  This is robbery.  It is also wickedness.  

Similarly, motor workshop managers and mechanics could and do rob car parts, clean and fix back old parts yet charge for new parts with receipts to boot, and leave vehicles in worse conditions than first obtained. Drivers exploit and oppress passengers when the rains come and during peak season. 

The pervading nature by which corruption, greed and wickedness have seized people and nation, and affairs in general can be traced to two main factors: 

 i. First the promotion of violence and might, unrighteous, unjust and immoral practices in the politics and administration of the land, and 

ii. Second, the exaltation of silver and gold as God and materialism as honourable and acceptable spirit and philosophy of life. 

Unfortunately, these two evil, wicked and abominable forces have found their way into the Church and have established unholy alliances with otherwise knowledgeable as well as unsuspecting ministers, workers and even leaders of Churches.  Yet the Church is supposed to be the light and salt in society, the teacher and discipler, warden and defender of truth and moral rectitude, the promoter and upholder of peace, righteousness, justice and equity, and the instruments of God’s Kingdom of Love and Peace, and His Power and Reign on Earth.  

It is with this in view that we are taking the liberty of the holy and high call of the church to humbly appeal to Church Leaders, Ministers, Elders and Gospel Workers and the Saints as a whole to let the truth prevail in the lives of the flock in particular and in the affairs of the nation as a whole.  

In saying this, we are hopeful that given the large size of the Body of Christ (Christians are not merely in majority in the land, the Christian Faith is now the dominant religion of the country) the Church stands in a good position to halt, in fact, stamp out and deliver the country from the three forces of evil, corruption, greed and wickedness. 

The church can do this through these three major means: 

i. Abandoning the idolatry in the exaltation, worship and honour of Silver and Gold and Materialism. 

ii. Preaching and teaching the truth of the scriptures that liberates from perversion and falsehood, the ego and Satan, exhorting unto the new heavenly, humble, honest and modest life and hope in Jesus Christ; (truth, meekness and righteousness is the spirit, evidence and testimony of Christ. The Truth of God is not knowledge.  Knowledge puffs up). 

iii. Praying through and casting out the spirit and powers behind corruption, greed and wickedness out of the church and the nation as a whole, closing the shores and borders of the country against them. 

There is no gainsaying the fact that these evil forces have already done harm, having changed the character of Ghanaians and the socio-cultural environment of the nation. (Many flee the land simply because of greed and the lure of the golden calf) 

The Church has a great responsibility to help stamp out indiscipline, lies, immorality, unrighteousness, injustice, wickedness and the idolatry and philosophy of life of the so-called modern world, namely, the worship and service of silver and gold, and the adoption of materialism and pleasure as the purpose and meaning of life.  Both are of death and instruments of Satan and fallen wicked man. Blow the Alarm, Proclaim the truth, liberate the people, establish church, nation and people in life, love, truth, peace and righteousness, honesty, loyalty, faithfulness and selflessness trust and hope in God through faith in Jesus Christ is the key to life. 

May we let the knowledge of God and his truth, the love of Christ and the joy of the LORD reign and rule in hearts.  

LET THE TRUTH PREVAIL.  LET OUR GOD REIGN indeed! 

GOD BLESS GHANA. 

Monday, March 29, 2004