TIG Post

Tag: African Catholic leaders

  • Praying for a visa would be unnecessary if we have competent leaders – Ben Dotsei Malor

    Praying for a visa would be unnecessary if we have competent leaders – Ben Dotsei Malor

    Former Deputy Editor at the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), Ben Dotsei Malor, has expressed deep concerns about the current state of leadership in Ghana.

    He believes that elected leaders across various institutions have let down the citizenry, contributing to widespread corruption and governance failures that are holding the country back.

    In an exclusive interview on JoyNews’ AM Show on July 1, marking Ghana’s Republic Day, Dotsei Malor lamented the situation where citizens resort to fasting and prayer just to secure travel visas.

    “Some of the prayers we are fasting and praying for in church, if we had good leadership, we wouldn’t need to pray those prayers,” he lamented.

    He emphasized that with effective leadership, such desperate measures wouldn’t be necessary.

    According to him, true leaders must embody strong moral principles and essential leadership qualities to effectively serve their mandates.

    He criticized the lack of personal and institutional leadership, stressing that leadership should foster growth and development at all levels of society.

    Dotsei Malor underscored the critical need for effective leadership to address Ghana’s challenges, including brain drain and economic hardships.

    “We have failed our people. Leadership is critically needed on personal levels, entity levels, in communities, and between you and me. Iron sharpens iron,” he stressed.

    He emphasized that robust systems and structures are essential for sustainable development and to curb the recurrent issues facing the nation.

    “We have failed our people. Leadership is critically needed on personal levels, entity levels, in communities, and between you and me. Iron sharpens iron,” he stressed.

  • Ghana needs an independent, honest person as a leader – Alan

    Ghana needs an independent, honest person as a leader – Alan

    An independent presidential candidate and leader of the Movement for Change, Alan Kyerematen, has highlighted Ghana’s deep polarization, emphasizing the need for a unifying leader to foster national development.

    In an interview on TV3’s New Day show on Monday, July 1, Mr Kyerematen underscored Ghana’s current state at a crossroads due to economic challenges, asserting that only an independent and principled leader can effectively unite the nation to address these pressing issues.

    “We need an independent and honest leader who will unite the country, our country is so polarised. Ghana is at a crossroads and where we are now with the crisis, we must go beyond this type of politics. Yes I want to be president, God has endowed me with the skills but we need to bring the country together,” he said.

    Mr Kyerematen has put forward several commitments, including a pledge to streamline government efficiency by reducing ministerial positions to 40—a stark contrast to competing promises from other parties, such as the NDC’s commitment to 60 ministers and the NPP’s pledge of 50.

    Presenting his Great Transformational Plan manifesto, Kyerematen outlined his vision for significant reforms, including eliminating sole sourcing in public procurement to ensure transparency and combating corruption.

    “I will reduce the current size of government and run a lean executive administration consisting of not more than 40 ministers”, he told a filled conference room as they cheered loudly.

    “Eliminate soul sourcing in public procurement and contracting to ensure value for money” according to Alan will inform one of the cardinal means to eliminating corruption within government public procurement.

    He also advocated for constitutional amendments, proposing an extension of presidential terms to facilitate long-term governance for developmental purposes.

    Additionally, Mr Kyerematen advocated for the abolition of the Council of State to establish a new parliamentary chamber representing various stakeholder groups, such as faith-based organizations, traditional authorities, and professional associations.

    “I will abolish the Council of State and establish a new second chamber of Parliament with representation from key stakeholders including the faith-based organizations, traditional authorities, professional bodies, artisanal associations, gender-based organizations, private sector, labour unions and people with disability” arguing this would allow for a proper representation of interest groups in the decision making of the country.

    He argued that this restructuring would enhance inclusivity in national decision-making processes.

    With these proposals, Alan Kyerematen positions himself as a formidable contender poised to challenge the dominance of the traditional political landscape in Ghana ahead of the December 7 general elections.

  • Same-sex blessings proposed by Pope declined by African Catholic leaders

    Same-sex blessings proposed by Pope declined by African Catholic leaders

    Cardinal Ambongo asserts that same-sex blessings directly contradict the cultural ethos of Africa.

    Catholic bishops in Africa have declined Pope Francis’ pronouncement to bless homosexual couples, emphasizing that it goes “against the will of God.”

    The Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (Secam), serving as the overarching organization for Catholic bishops across Africa, stated in a release that the Vatican’s endorsement of same-sex blessings is “inappropriate.”

    “The constant teaching of the Church describes homosexual acts as ‘intrinsically disordered’ and contrary to the natural law,” it read.

    Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo, the President of Secam, affirmed that the message had received approval from Pope Francis, and their communion with the head of the Catholic Church will persist.

    In the previous month, Pope Francis expressed that priests should be allowed to bless same-sex couples, prompting diverse reactions from both the Catholic Church and the LGBT community.

    Nevertheless, the Vatican clarified that blessings should not be integrated into regular Church rituals or associated with civil unions or weddings. It reiterated the stance that marriage is viewed as a union between a man and a woman.

    Globally, 64 countries criminalize homosexuality, with approximately half of them situated in Africa.