The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Justin Portal Welby, has described Ghana’s democratic process as exemplary in Africa, explaining, it is not based on tyranny but on clear policy and freedom of choice.
Citing double voting in Northern Ireland and the January 6, 2023 storming of the US Senate by some elements as political corruption, he said Ghana’s progress in democracy was promising.
The world spiritual leader of the Anglican Church made the observation when he responded to a toast by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo at a dinner at the Jubilee House in Accra.
The last Sunday event was held in honour of the Archbishop after leading a delegation to the 18th Consultative Council meeting of the church in Accra.
The delegates were made up of the leadership of the church from over 165 countries around the world.
Dr Welby recounted how Ghana had, over the years, nurtured its own constitutional pattern of democracy and said although, the country had had close and hard -fought elections, they were always free and fair.
“Democracy is something that we preserve by loving it, and for that to happen, senior politicians need to be willing to accept results and see the good of the country as more important than their personal future,” he added.
He further said Africa was the continent of the future and that by its good political performance so far, Ghana had shown it great potential.
“What we see is that, it is the quality of leadership that is required and not the size of the country,” he said.
While urging Ghana to build on its achievements, the Archbishop of Canterbury entreated the government to support other countries on the continent to come out of conflicts and coups d’état.
President Akufo-Addo expressed appreciation to the Archbishop, saying he was the first of such visits to the country.
He said the Anglican Church was one of the most important institutions in the country, which has majority of the people as Christians.
According to him, Ghana is a united nation at peace and expressed belief in the ideals of freedom and justice carved out by the founding fathers of the nation.
President Akufo-Addo thanked God for the peace and stability the country had enjoyed over the years.
“The Executive and the Church are leading the people to attain their promises for a better tomorrow. We have a duty and a responsibility to work together to improve the conditions of the people.
“The Church and the Executive should, therefore, work together to achieve the objective,” the President added. He urged Christians to rise to their calling, saying the growth of the church was measured, not by the number of followers but the quality of its members who were dedicated to upholding the spiritual virtues of Jesus Christ.
BY TIMES REPORTER
