Accra: The Africa Center for the Study of Worldviews and Wholistic Development of Societies has emphasized that the nation requires more than just prayers for meaningful progress. In a statement released by Dr. Chris Ampadu, the Director of the Center, to the Ghana News Agency (GNA), it was suggested that a change in mindsets and attitudes is crucial for addressing the country's challenges.
According to Ghana News Agency, while the center welcomed President John Dramani Mahama's declaration of July 1 as a National Day of Prayer, it expressed concerns that this initiative merely underscores Ghana's religiosity without tackling the alleged moral and governance issues that obstruct national development. The statement emphasized the need to reflect on the relationship between the nation's love for prayers and its prevailing mindsets and attitudes.
The statement highlighted Ghana's abundant natural resources, fertile land, beneficial rainfall, and talented populace, yet pointed out the country's continued reliance on prayers, implying a lack of appreciation for these blessings. It questioned whether national issues such as poverty, disease, hunger, and recent devastating floods were divinely ordained or the result of human negligence, greed, and corruption.
Citing 2 Chronicles 7:14, which advocates for prayer accompanied by repentance, the statement called for accountability from successive governments regarding funds allegedly received since the 1990s from the World Bank, International Monetary Fund, and other agencies for infrastructure improvements. It suggested that proper allocation of these funds could have mitigated issues related to sewage and drainage systems in Accra and other cities.
The statement further criticized some District Assemblies, Metropolitan offices, and political appointees, allegedly comprising religious individuals, for prioritizing personal gain over public service. It highlighted the paradox of leaders who engage in religious practices while harboring greed and corruption.
Quoting Proverbs 14:32, the statement noted that religious leaders are aware of the alleged wicked and corrupt nature of some members but often fail to call them to repentance. It proposed that the National Day of Prayer be transformed into a National Day of Repentance and Prayer, urging citizens to abandon alleged greed, selfishness, wickedness, and corruption.
The statement concluded by asserting that divine intervention is contingent upon individuals humbling themselves, sincerely seeking God, and turning away from their sins and wickedness.