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The two-day National Development Conference 2023 on “Moral Vision and National Development” has ended with a unanimous call by participants for a National Moral and Integrity Council akin to the National Peace Council to be instituted to develop a Moral Vision Plan to inform Ghana’s development agenda for the next generation.

The Council, when established, will lead the restoration of generations of decay and moral decadence that Ghana has experienced over the years.

The Conference also recommended the setting up of a multi-faceted electoral team facilitated by Faith-Based Organisations to continuously engage with the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), the Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) to see to fruition the National Moral Vision Plan.  

These calls were contained in a communique issued at the end of the conference, which brought together over 2000 stakeholders drawn from a broad spectrum of Ghanaian society (religious groups, traditional authorities, political parties, media, professional bodies, Civil Society Organisations, the Clergy among others) at the Pentecost Convention Centre, Gomoa Fetteh near Kasoa.

Delivering his closing remarks, Apostle Eric Nyamekye, Chairman of The Church of Pentecost, expressed his belief that the conference’s outcome will be a watershed for moral, ethical and sound re-awakening for Ghanaians and Africa.

The participants of the conference concluded that the nation’s moral fibre had dipped very fast, and the voice of non-political actors, including the religious organisation, had not been audible enough. It further noted the urgent need for leaders with a moral conscience to carry the leadership mandate in an honest manner in all spheres of Ghanaian society.

The conference, which saw participants breaking into plenary sessions to discuss various thematic areas, had the Vice President, Dr. Mahmoud Bawumia, delivering the keynote address.

Also in attendance to deliver fraternal greetings was the Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. A.S.K. Bagbin, the Chief Justice, Her Ladyship Gertrude Torkonoo, Former Presidents John Agyekum Kufuor and John Dramani Mahama and President of the Ghana Journalist Association, Mr. Albert K. Dwumfuor among other distinguished guests.

Speakers at the conference presented papers on thought-provoking and insightful topics on the gross decline of the moral fibre of society and its consequences for future generations.

They also proffered significant solutions and recommendations on the issues they raised. The Voice of Pentecost were in attendance and interspersed the deliveries with renditions of national and patriotic songs of Ghana.

Find below a copy of the communique.

Sheikh Aremeyaw Shaibu, the Spokesperson of the National Chief Imam, has emphasised the significant role of religion in upholding moral uprightness for national development.

According to the respected religious scholar, religion and morality are inseparably intertwined, with religious norms shaping and governing behaviour to achieve moral goals.

Presenting a paper on the topic, “Religion, Morality and National Development,” yesterday at the maiden National Development Conference held at Pentecost Convention Centre (PCC), Sheikh Shaibu highlighted that the choice of the vision of the conference could not have been done at a better time.

He expressed concern about the moral heritage that the current generation of Ghanaians aims to pass on to future generations.

Defining morality as a system society uses to determine right from wrong, he noted that it involves a code of conduct that guides individuals to engage in behaviours deemed good and encouraged while discouraging harmful actions (moral vices).

Morality, at its core, he explained, pertains to the purity of thoughts that influence actions and their consequences on both individuals’ and society’s welfare.

The scholar elaborated on the observable characteristics of religion within communities, such as beliefs, places of worship, rituals, sacred symbols, holy texts, moral quotes, prayers, invocations, feasts, and festivals.

He noted that religion manifests in two forms: the belief and faith aspect, which is the core, and the other elements that form the expression of religion.

However, Sheikh Shaibu lamented that Ghana sometimes focuses too much on the external aspects of religion, neglecting its core essence, leading to a disconnection between faith and practice.

He pointed out that despite the dominance of religion, morality is on a steady decline in Ghanaian society, posing a challenge to address moral decadence.

“Throughout history, religion has provided moral quotes that form the basis of modern society’s laws, encouraging righteousness and social harmony,” he said.

He stressed that religion without morality is devoid of substance and unproductive, underscoring the need to uphold and honour morality as it uplifts and supports society, transforming individuals into agents of lasting and enduring development and moral integrity.

Regarding the relationship between religion and development, Sheikh Shaibu emphasised that the key to meaningful and sustainable development lies in the moral progress and happiness of the citizenry.

“Moral development is essential for national development, as a morally undeveloped and apathetic citizenry hinders the country’s progress,” he admonished.

Concluding his presentation, Sheikh Aremeyaw Shaibu urged society to recognise the indispensable role of religion in fostering moral uprightness, promoting ethical reflection, and guiding individuals toward meaningful development.

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A former Member of the Council of State, Hon. Mrs. Gifty Affenyi Dadzie, has called on the media to sustain the media campaign in the fight against the illegal mining (galamsey) menace while demonstrating positive defiance against the influential individuals behind the menace in their reportage.

While commending the media in Ghana for the significant contribution and progressive landmarks in national development and the fight against ‘galamsey’, she quickly revealed that available information suggests that some influential individuals were behind the menace and stood to gain at the state’s expense.

“The beneficiaries of ‘galamsey’ are powerful and would not easily give up irrespective of the dangers to our water bodies and environment,” he stressed.

Giving a synopsis of the cost involved in treating water for use and the future implications on the country, she reiterated and passionately appealed to the media to keep the pressure and sustain their campaign against the menace in the interest of future generations.

She further indicated that the gross disregard by persons involved in the menace pointed to the gory state of the moral conscience in the country today and reflected an existential threat to the environment and livelihood.

Delivering a paper on the second day of the two-day National Development Conference organised by The Church of Pentecost at the Pentecost Convention Centre (PCC), Gomoa near Kasoa, on the theme “Moral Vision and National Development: The Role of the Media,” Mrs. Afenyi Dadzie, who is also the National Prayer Director for Aglow International, called on Church leaders in Ghana to also preach/teach on morality and responsible citizenship to the congregants, especially in the face of the current predicament facing the nation.

She opined that the Church must engage with the media and other stakeholders in shaping the moral vision and national development since any compartmentation will not affect the country’s interest, especially the future generation.

The former Ghana Journalist Association (GJA) President also decried some excesses perpetrated by some persons against media practitioners in discharging their duties. She was, however, quick to add that the media also has a responsibility to ensure that their reportage is always in line with the mandate of accountability and watchdog role.

“The media should not downplay the role and importance of rejoinders in the journalistic work but take cognisance of the Article 62 of the 1992 Constitution,” she advised.

Touching on corruption and its tendencies in the media, she called on the GJA, NMC and others in the media regulatory space to advocate for a reasonable compensation regime for practitioners since there are currently ‘some very poor salaries,” citing a study by the School of Communication Studies of the University of Ghana to validate her assertion.

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The Founder and President of the International Leadership Foundation (ILF), Prof. Delanyo Adadevoh, has challenged Africans to take responsibility for their own development because God does not support irresponsibility. 

The professor who doubles as the Global Vice-President for Campus Crusade for Christ made the call when he addressed participants on the second day of the National Development Conference (NADEC’23) at the Pentecost Convention Centre (PCC), Gomoa Fetteh, under the theme “Moral Vision and National Development.”

In an address that centred on the subthemes of integrity, freedom and justice, interdependence, maximisation and excellence, Prof. Adadevoh said being responsible for one’s self and development required a high level of integrity.

He pointed out that the private life of a person of integrity is always consistent with their public life. He iterated that a nation with low integrity cannot develop.

“Without integrity, every effort is like filling a huge barrel with holes with water; the more you fill it, the more it spills out,” he added.

He observed that corruption has become so endemic in Africa that it sometimes looks impossible to uproot.

“You know corruption is systemic when those who need to fight it are also corrupt,” he stated.

He indicated that one way corruption had been made attractive was by missing the context and philosophy in the folk tales of the Ananse stories.

He, therefore, proposed that the context of “Ananse stories” should be reset to lead the citizenry into integrity and not emulate the corrupt ways of Ananse.

Prof. Adadevoh also called on the Ghanaians to take up the responsibility of ensuring that they experience true freedom by becoming sincere advocates of justice for the people.

He further opined that when freedom is granted by another, then it could be taken back by the one who granted it, but when one fights for their own freedom, they become truly free.

“We should move into the space of victory; it is about time we took our freedom and fought for justice for others,” he encouraged.

He also charged Ghanaians to consider value addition in order to maximise whatever God has given and endowed the nation.

Referencing Matthew 25:15, he noted that whoever God gives a resource, He also grants abilities to manage same. Thus, he indicated that no one should think Africans, and for that matter, Ghanaians are incapable of managing their resources.

‘The reason we haven’t done better is because our country is exporting huge timber logs and importing toothpicks! You cannot develop in this way,” he lamented.

 He said underlining the first request of ‘give us our daily bread’ in the Lord’s prayer is what one has, further stressing the significance for Ghanaians to focus on value addition to the natural resources at their disposal.

He said the greatest havoc on Africa is that the West robbed her of all that was hers and imposed theirs on Africa.

“Your ‘Abolo’ [bread] is based on maize that you have, but the ‘Yevu bolo’ [Whiteman’s bread] is from wheat that you don’t have. And we have developed a taste for what we don’t have. This is how we lost our ground,” he said.

He observed further that as long as the dependency syndrome prevailed in the minds of Ghanaians, the nation would continue to be beggars, which would continue to affect the nation’s development agenda.

He stated that ‘daily bread’ is a measure of our existence and growth. ‘If you win the battle in the space of “daily bread,” you can develop. But I can tell you categorically that we are losing it,” he stated, adding that ‘God requires what is in your hand before He multiples it. If we don’t change and use what God gave to us for our daily bread then we are joking’.

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Rev. Kwabena Opuni Frimpong, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Alliance for Christian Advocacy and former General Secretary for the Christian Council of Ghana (ACAA), has called on the leaders of the country to pay critical attention to Ghana’s educational system in order to raise competent future leaders and avoid kakistocracy.

According to the Presbyterian minister, “Education without moral and spiritual values always produces intelligent criminals, and no matter how plentiful they are in the system, we cannot build a nation with them.”

Rev. Opuni Frimpong made this statement yesterday during his presentation on the topic: “Patriotism and National Development” at the National Development Conference 2023 (NADEC’23) held at the Pentecost Convention Centre (PCC), Gomoa Fetteh.

During his presentation, Rev. Opuni Frimpong expressed concern about the moral decadence in Ghanaian society, especially in the conduct of students on various campuses, saying that education, particularly Christian education, must produce faithful disciples and good citizens in order to transform the world.

He cited various incidents that had gone viral to highlight the declining morality rate in schools and emphasised that leaders must not look unconcerned.

Rev. Opuni Frimpong partly attributed this growing concern to the two major political parties, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC), who have been steering the affairs of the nation for most of the 4th republic and called for a paradigm shift for national development.

He stated that the absence of a strong sense of morality and ethical values in the public space has also resulted in a kakistocracy, where the least competent persons are placed in leadership positions.

“There are too many ‘kakis’ in our political discourse. Unfortunately, the two major political parties in the country are the same and need to be nurtured,” he remarked.

Quoting Proverbs 13:22, he advised national leaders to rise to the task of leadership by leaving behind a great legacy for future generations and not creating problems for posterity to solve.

“It is only wicked people who create problems for their children to solve tomorrow,” he said.

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The President of the Ghana Journalist Association (GJA), Mr. Albert Kwabena Dwumfuor, has bemoaned the lack of commitment to arrest the decay of Ghana’s national fiber, resulting in a fast and alarming decline over the years. He, therefore, calls for urgent measures by all stakeholders to halt this trend, with a pledge to ensure the commitment of the media fraternity in Ghana to eliminate wrong practices within their fold and uphold the right moral attitude.

Mr. Dwumfuor made these remarks during a fraternal address at the two-day National Development Conference underway at the behest of The Church of Pentecost at the Pentecost Convention Centre, Gomoa Fetteh, near Kasoa.

Touching on the conference theme, “Moral Vision and National Development,” Mr. Dwumfuor indicated that given the role the Church has played in the country’s development, it would not be out of place to refer to it as the fifth estate of the realm, after the fourth estate, the media. He congratulated The Church of Pentecost for demonstrating that ‘the church is both faith and action.’

He emphasised that the fast decay of the country’s morals places an urgent responsibility on all stakeholders to rise and ensure corruption, injustice, and poverty are eradicated. ‘The Church must use its media and other platforms to speak on the ills of the nation without compromise,’ he said.

Mr. Dwumfuor encouraged the Church to take up its role as the centrepiece of development through active participation in the nation’s progress. He also admonished the media to partner with the Church in their mandate to expose corruption and rot in the nation.

He posited that the media needed the support of all who want to see the nation developed and corruption eradicated. ‘Even when the media gets it wrong, resorting to assault is not the way forward. We must refrain from attacking media practitioners,’ he observed.

He requested the executive arm of government and parliament to condemn, in no uncertain terms, all physical attacks on the media and the judiciary to severely punish perpetrators to serve as a deterrent.

He praised The Church of Pentecost for organising a monumental and historical conference focused on moral vision and national development. The conference, the first of its kind organised by the church, brings together politicians from the political divide in Ghana, policy analysts and think tanks, the academia, heads of public and private institutions, the media, and all stakeholders invested in charting a course for the development of the nation.

The two-day conference is expected to produce a blueprint for a harmonious national agenda, focusing on a moral vision that all stakeholders in the country will embrace.

The opening session of the conference was graced by the Vice President of the Republic, Dr. Alhaji Mahamudu Bawumia, the two surviving former presidents of Ghana, and their Excellencies, John Dramani Mahama and John Agyekum Kufuor. Also gracing the occasion are the Speaker of Ghana’s Parliament, Rt Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin; the Chief Justice of Ghana, Her Ladyship Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkonoo; members of parliament, ministers, the President of the Central Regional House of Chiefs, Odeefo Amoakwa Buadu VIII, representing the President of the National House of Chiefs, Ogyeahohoo Yaw Gbebi II; the Spokesperson of the National Chief Imam, Sheih Aremeyaw Shaibu, among other dignitaries.

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The President of the Central Regional House of Chiefs, Odeefo Amoakwa Buadu, has underscored the crucial role of traditional leaders in national development.

Odeefo Amoakwa Buadu, who is also the Paramount Chief of the Breman Traditional Area, made this statement today at the ongoing National Development Conference 2023 at the Pentecost Convention Centre (PCC), Gomoa Fetteh when he delivered fraternal greetings on behalf of the President of the National House of Chiefs.

In his address, the revered traditional ruler expressed that he deems his participation in the historic conference a great honour and commended The Church of Pentecost for strengthening the relationship between the Church and the Chieftaincy institution through various initiatives, including the introduction of the Chieftaincy Ministry.

He emphasised that chiefs play a significant role as development agents, mediating between people in power and their subordinates. Therefore, he called on the government, the Church, and other development stakeholders not to sideline the chiefs but to regard traditional rulers as development partners.

The National Development Conference 2023 was graced by the Vice President of the Republic of Ghana, Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia, along with many dignitaries, including former presidents John Agyekum Kufour, John Dramani Mahama, and many others.

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Right Honourable Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, the Speaker of Parliament in Ghana, has called on national leaders and stakeholders in the development of the nation to prioritise Ghana’s interests above all else and work together without disparity.

“I strongly believe that Ghana can thrive again with our unwavering commitment and dedication to putting the nation first in all our endeavours. This confidence can pave the way for renewed commitment, ethical and moral leadership that fosters trust and confidence among citizens,” he asserted.

The Speaker of Parliament delivered this admonition on Wednesday, July 26, 2023, during the inaugural National Development Conference (NADEC) 2023, held at the Pentecost Convention Centre (PCC) in Gomoa Fetteh, near Kasoa.

Speaking on the theme, “Moral Vision and National Development: The Role of Ghana’s Politician,” he emphasised that the interplay between morality, the church, and politics plays a crucial role in national development.

“The state and the church are both morally obligated to maintain a harmonious relationship and equilibrium that holds nations together. The convergence of moral vision, national development, and the conduct of leadership, particularly political leadership, are vital for Ghana’s development,” he stated.

He urged political leaders and other key stakeholders to change their hearts, minds, and attitudes toward ensuring national development.

The Speaker emphasised that the nation’s development cannot be solely the government’s responsibility. “We all need to work together on this, particularly the state and the church,” he added.

He, therefore, urged all citizens and stakeholders involved in Ghana’s development to uphold principles of openness, transparency, accountability, and good governance.

Hon, Bagbin also stressed the significance of character in effective leadership, stating, “Good character builds trust. Without trust, people cannot follow a leader; without followers, leadership cannot exist.”

He further stated that Political leaders must be ready to be held accountable for their actions and inactions and conduct themselves in a manner that goes beyond reproach.

“The time has come for a sober reflection on how we conduct our national and international affairs. Our actions should be for the betterment of society, not just about power and might, but about God’s involvement in the affairs of men,” he said.

Hon. Bagbin again highlighted that every citizen is responsible for serving the nation with integrity and contributing to society’s progress and development.

He also commended The Church of Pentecost, on behalf of the Parliament of Ghana, for providing this important forum for national dialogue.

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