THEME: GOD ALONE IS GHANA’S SALVATION, NOT POLITICS OR WEALTH 

Praise and Thanks be unto the LORD GOD JEHOVAH who has heard the cries of the people of Ghana and by His Mercies and Working Power delivered the nation from oppression and from the darkness, evil and hopelessness that had befallen us as nation and people.  

The LORD GOD JEHOVAH has since ushered the nation into a state of Peace, Quiet and Stability.  He has set us on a path of progress and hope.  Indeed, the Lord God of Hosts has become the Redeemer, Protector, Defence, in short, the Salvation of the country. Glory be to His Name. Many a neighbor, many a country round the globe is beset with confusion and pain, war, blood and death.  Even the nations of the North are threatened with confusion, political instability, economic challenges, social distress and bewilderment. 

In the midst of all these, Ghana has become a broker of peace and a beacon of light with her political and economic re-ordering for peace, freedom and liberty, social harmony, stability and progress. Yet, whilst the nation plods on with democratic governance, politico-economic re-ordering to take the country out of the woods and establish a social order and culture of peace, freedom and liberty, law and order and non-violence, good neigborliness, peace and friendliness in our foreign relations there seems to be rising a voice of discord and vain nostalgia after the old and past order of blood and violence, disquiet, uncertainty and hopelessness. Ghanaians are being led into the alley of forgetfulness, confusion and above all ingratitude unto the living God to whom we all cried for deliverance but yesterday. 

Is our God able?  Can He provide? Can He lead us and help us out of the woods.  Has He not begun it?  The answer to all this is of course a big yes, yes and Amen in fact.  The LORD has become the Shepherd, Protector and Provider of Ghana. 

In this connection, it should be obvious for any informed, discerning and well-meaning citizen that leading the nation out of the woods and laying spiritual, political, economic and social foundations and re-ordering the political economy with institutions and arrangements for Peace and Harmony, Good Governance and Effective Participation in 

Development and Progress would not only take much time, it will require the love and goodwill, understanding, meaningful participation and patience of all citizens, particularly the ruling class and active players in the economy.  Our neighbors also would need to be brought in to understand and to share in our aspirations. 

This is very crucial, necessary and critical for building a sound, peaceful, stable and viable political economy.  

That is to say, taking Ghana out of the woods of political confusion and economic frustration, social distress and non-progress would require deliberate and conscious efforts and loyalty on the part of all, government, chiefs and ruling class, political parties, and the public services, academia and the professions, business and industry, workers and citizenry as a whole to accept the challenges and work together to build, strengthen and consolidate the new and needed political and social order of Peace and Harmony, Freedom and Liberty, Development and Progress.  

Instead of the needed deliberate and conscious efforts and decorum for taking the nation out of the woods, there have unfortunately arisen voices deliberately harping on the economic difficulties, suffering and social strains for cheap popularity and political advantage, cause confusion, destabilize things and turn the clock back to the days of darkness and evil prior to the divine intervention and deliverance. 

Except the Lord God has been on the side of the nation, the post-2000 political order of peace and quiet, law and order, freedom and liberty would have been jettisoned by these forces who it appears know no language and plod no path  but that of violence, blood and doom.  

One must concede in this regard the right of utterance and even hearing in a political order of freedom and justice, free and fair participation in open debate and open determination of public interest and the public good.  However, such rights and liberties should not be turned into a terrorist ploy to coerce society and the nation as whole into the alley of Satanism and Blood, Darkness and Death.  

In this connection, it is an open secret that wealth creation, rising employment, output and incomes and progress in any economy, and particularly in one such as ours, would not only require heavy investment but also special developmental measures and a requisite and adequate corresponding response from the concerned sectors their players and the general public as a whole. Besides, there is the inevitable and critical issue of gestation.  Investment in agriculture and industry, particularly manufacturing, even where the infrastructure and capital outlay is already fully laid require time to show forth appreciable results and impact on the national economy, and thus what we frequently hear the pockets of the people.  Except the wealth is created there can be no talk of sharing, and equity in doing so.  

The investment and time required to rejuvenate agriculture and the corresponding investment and time sequence with production in virtually collapsed and yet to be established industrial plants demands knowledge, understanding, goodwill, honesty and fair play in public discussions and the politics of power and governance.  

In calling for knowledge and understanding, responsibility and true identification, we would like our readers and the entire nation, government and political parties, chiefs and elders, academia and business to remember and never forget that it is the LORD God Almighty that has redeemed the nation and has set her on the present path of restoration and hope.  Whatever we do, whatever our persuasion and whatever our pursuits, we must never forget as people and nation that God is the Redeemer, Protector and Defense, Hope and Joy of Ghana.  In the one and only God alone does Ghana and must Ghana put her trust.  

On the other hand, Government in a democratic market economy cannot but direct, challenge and infuse spirit into the economy. Public investment and control in the command economy have shown forth their fruits and viability.  The critical issue in this respect is the level of response and conscious commitment on the part of all players. 

Thus, we expect our Parliamentarians, political leaders and the players in the market, opinion leaders and social commentators not only to do proper homework and participate in the debate over the Public Good and Path of Development and Progress with knowledge an d understanding but also with due sense of Responsibility, Humility and Dignity and Color and True Identification with processes and Loyalty to the nation. 

It is true in this regard that informed and responsible debate and conduct are necessary and very critical in the present times of politico-economic and social re-engineering for a new or the envisioned Ghana. The growth and development, progress and prosperity and the good of the nation demand love and prayer, diligent and faithful hard work, and loyal seeking of the good of the land and her people on the part of all.  It also implies sacrifice and hope in sowing and patient waiting for He who waters the seed and causes growth, fruit and prosperity to occur and become a reality. 

We must be willing and ready to work together towards national goals and the agreed expected end. We must seek and work for the good of the land while we pursue our individual, group and collective interests. 

But most critical and above all, we must work in the Knowledge, Fear and Honor of God the Creator, the Redeemer and Salvation of the country.  The destiny of the nation lies in the Hand of God.  

In this regard, it may be necessary to remind ourselves that there is only one saviour for the land.  The Saviour is not Satan nor Man, Power nor Money, Position nor Place.  As we know, the Saviour and Salvation is not gold nor silver, stone nor graven art by man’s device.  Obuasi gold and cocoa for that matter cannot save Ghana.  Only God can save the country.  God is Spirit and the father of all spirits.  The earth is His footstool.  

All Ghanaians whatever their position, power or place are not God and cannot play God to the nation.  It is therefore necessary for all the peoples of Ghana to remember this scripture:  O ISRAEL (GHANA), THE LORD OUR GOD IS ONE GOD (Deut. Chap.6:4). 

Ghana cannot serve God as well as Satan, Man and Money.  For the sake of the youth in particular, let us remind ourselves that money or silver or gold is not God.  On the other hand, position and power are but inheritance, a combination of Divine endowment and delegated authority from God to Man. There is no saviour nor redeemer but God. All are answerable to Him.  All are required to be humble to God, Loyal to the Nation, exude love and responsible conduct towards fellow men and nation.  Darkness has gone.  A new day is dawn.   Light, Life and Love is the new order. 

 LET US WORK TOGETHER TO BLESS GOD, NATION AND PEOPLE. 

GOD BLESS GHANA. 

Monday, February 9, 2004