The immediate past moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana Very Rev. Prof. Emmanuel Martey has finally broken his silence on why he has gone mute since the ruling New Patriotic Party took office in 2017.
Very Rev. Prof. Emmanuel Martey was very vocal on national issues during the John Mahama led government between 2012 to 2016. He consistently attacked the government over perceived corruption and economic mismanagement, however, has become silent in recent years.
A section of Ghanaians particularly the opposition National Democratic Congress, NDC, has accused him of being a hypocrite for his deafening silence despite worsening corruption and economic mismanagement under the current Akufo Addo led NPP government.
However, addressing a public lecture organized by the Ascension Congregation of Presbyterian Church Ghana in Koforidua to mark the 140th anniversary on the evening of Tuesday, May 24, 2022, Prof.Martey said he has resorted to the use of text messages among other channels to speak to people on matters of national interest rather than public outburst because he is no more the substantive moderator of the Presbyterian church.
“Rev.Prof Martey is still speaking but has changed the style. Those I need to communicate with them I communicate. sometimes through text messages and a lot of things have happened because of my intervention .so I’m still speaking. You know the revelations, practices and procedures of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, the Spirit of our constitution is that the Presbyterian Church of Ghana has only one representative to speak on behalf of the church and that person is the moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana not past moderators but serving moderator. And for me my understanding of leadership is that especially in the Church’s setting leadership is like a relay race when the baton is given to you [you don’t take it, it’s given to you], you run as fast as you could and when you get to the next person, you hand over the baton and stop running. If you hand over the baton and you continue running, anyone who does that is mad ” He said.
Very Rev Prof.Emmanuel Martey admits that corruption is still on the rise in the country but says many clergymen are reluctant to openly speak due to lack fear of being insulted and denigrated by political foot soldiers and attack dogs who are guilty.
He also alleged that some clergymen accept bribes which come as a gift from politicians to silence them while others refuse to speak out due to the fact that their tribesmen are in power.
Present at the event was the Eastern Regional Minister Seth Kwame Acheampong and some clergymen from other denomination.
Speaking on the Theme of the Public Lecture ” The Bible Its impact on the Church and Society in Ghana”, Very Rev Prof.Martey said the Bible has positively influenced and impacted all spheres of life including politics, arts and entertainment industry, moral standards and facilitated national development
He however bemoaned that Politicians hide behind the Bible to win power but depart from the principle of the bible thereafter.
Source: Mybrytnewsroom.com/Obed Ansah
