A former Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation Minister, Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, is asking Ghanaians to reject leaders who are not committed to God and do not practice Christianity.
According to him, the basis of the system of governance being practiced in Ghana –Democracy –is Christianity, and has therefore asked that Ghanaians reject people who cannot identify themselves as such.
In his latest epistle titled: ‘Spiritual Foundation of our Democracy’, the Professor sourced the etymology of democracy from Christianity, asking that Ghanaians should not be swayed by the mere profession of Christianity by people but rather those who are truly committed to God through his son Jesus Christ.
In establishing the foundation of democracy, the Professor said that: “Most, if not all the presidential democracies in the world are a form of copy of the American system. In this system the basis of good governance is the separation of powers, which the framers of the American constitution borrowed from Chapter 33 and verse 22 of the book of the Prophet Isaiah in the Bible. This passage reads: “For the Lord is our judge, the Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord is our King; it is he who will save us.” Here the Bible clearly describes the separation of powers. The Lord is our judge points to the Judiciary; the Lord is our lawgiver refers to Parliament and the Lord is our King refers to the Executive.”
In choosing leadership therefore, Prof. Frimpong-Boateng said “we must therefore always seek to choose people who fear God, are trustworthy, honest, and wise to lead us. Such people understand the concepts of rights of life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness. Again, such leaders have respect for separation of powers of the Judiciary, Legislature, and the Executive, knowing the vulnerabilities of power concentrated in one individual.
“A Leader who professes Christianity but is not committed to God is just a pretender who does not appreciate the eternal biblical principles that must be respected and followed to ensure good service to God and humanity.”
Even though the former Head of the Korle-Bu Cardiothoracic Centre appreciated the relationship between Western democracy and the Ghanaian traditional system, he indicated the shortcomings in the later making the adoption of Western democracy a more preferred option.
He cited quotations in the Bible to justify why a leader without foundations in the Bible which birthed democracy would steer an administration devoid of bribery and corruption.
“It is only when a Leader understands the spiritual foundation of our democracy that such a leader will seek to follow the many passages in the Bible that address bribery and corruption, such as these: God condemns the acceptance of kickbacks and bribes: Deuteronomy 16:19: “You shall not distort justice; you shall not be partial, and you shall not take a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and perverts the words of the righteous.” Exodus 23:8: “You shall not take a bribe, for a bribe blinds the clear-sighted and subverts the cause of the just”. Proverbs 17:23: “A wicked man receives a bribe from the bosom to pervert the ways of justice”.
“Again, God condemns cheating and unfair acts in negotiations. Leviticus 19:35-36: “Do not use dishonest standards when measuring length, weight, or quantity. Use honest scales and honest weights, an honest ephah and an honest hin. I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt”. Public officials must be content with their salary. Luke 3:14: “Some soldiers also asked him (Jesus), saying: And we, what shall we do? And he said to them: Do not extort anyone, nor slander; and be content with your wages” he said in his letter.
The former Chair of the dissolved Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining continued that “anyone who is oblivious of these scriptural injunctions on bribery and corruption is not fit to lead a people whose democracy is firmly hinged on biblical principles. What is more important is choosing a leader who believes and understand that, his character and spirituality direct the country he leads.”
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