NDC Praises Methodist Church After Blasting Bishop Over E-Levy
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has praised a Methodist Church Ghana press release in which the church distanced itself from the actions of one of its own, the Rt. Rev. Stephen R. Bosomtwe Ayensu, a former Bishop of the Obuasi Diocese.
Former President John Dramani Mahama has been chastised by Bishop Stephen R. Bosomtwe Ayensu for his recent comment that the E-levy will be repealed if the NDC takes power.
Mr. Mahama would not even have the chance to revoke the policy, according to the Bishops.
Following his remarks, the NDC started an attack on the Bishop, with Sammy Gyamfi, the NDC’s Communications Officer, and other officers descending on the Methodist Bishop for attacking former President John Dramani Mahama.
The church in a statement issued on May 10, 2022, said the Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church, Most Rev. Dr. Paul Kwabena Boafo, is the official Spokesperson of the Church.
“The Methodist Church Ghana wishes to notify the general public that the Presiding Bishop is the official Spokesperson of the Church. We, therefore appeal to our noble friends of the media not to draw the name of The Methodist Church Ghana into the alleged statements made by the past Bishop and currently the Superintendent Minister of the Amakom Circuit of the Kumasi Diocese,” portion of the statement issued by the church read.
The NDC’s General Secretary, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, stated in a statement that the Bishop’s remarks were an attack on the former President.
NDC’s Statement Below:
NDC COMMENDS THE METHODIST CHURCH GHANA.
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has become aware of an official Press Release issued by the Methodist Church Ghana in which the church has distanced itself from the conduct of one of its own, the Rt. Rev. Stephen R. Bosomtwe Ayensu, a past Methodist Bishop of the Obuasi Diocese.
It would be recalled that only a few days ago, the Rt. Rev. Stephen R. Bosomtwe Ayensu, launched an unprovoked attack on His Excellency John Dramani Mahama, over his recent pledge to ensure the immediate repeal of the unpopular E-levy law when the NDC assumes the reins of Government.
This latest attack forms part of a litany of vitriolic attacks launched by the same man against the National Democratic Congress and leading figures and functionaries of the party. One of such attacks for instance was his unfounded claim that Former President Mahama and the NDC would cancel the Free Senior High School policy in the event the party won the 2020 General Election.
We wish to state that at no point did the party or its leadership assume that the church lent its support or endorsement whatsoever to the regrettable conduct of the Rt. Rev. Bosomtwe Ayensu who often took advantage of the noble platform offered him by the church to engage in scurrilous attacks on leading figures of the NDC as though he was on a political campaign platform.
The NDC wishes to reaffirm its cordial working relationship with the Methodist Church of Ghana which has been a worthy partner in our democratic and developmental journey as a nation. Indeed, several leaders of the NDC have been and are still devout members of the Methodist Church. Notably, President John Evans Atta Mills and Vice President Kwesi Amissah-Arthur, both of blessed memory were members of the Methodist Church in good standing until their passing. Similarly, Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang who is the immediate-past Running Mate to the Flagbearer of the NDC in the 2020 General Election is also a member of the Methodist Church.
The party hereby assures the Methodist Church that we shall continue to hold the church in high esteem as a strong pillar of development in the areas of education, health, among others in our dear country, as we have trusted the church to remain a non-aligned stakeholder, a neutral arbiter and the moral compass of our society.
Signed.
Johnson Asiedu Nketiah
(General Secretary)
