The Moral Vision Implementation Committee of the National Development Conference (NADEC 2023) presented its report to the Chairman of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Eric Nyamekye, in Accra, yesterday.
The team was led by Elder Dr Eric Oduro Osae (Director-General of the Internal Audit Agency, who doubled as the Secretary of the Committee). Other members of the committee present were Dr Regina Ohene-Darko Adutwum (Former Director-General of the National Development Planning Commission), Deaconess Mercy Larbi (Deputy Commissioner of the Commission for Human Rights and Justice), Rev. Dr Emmanuel Ansah, and Pastor Dr Felix Dela Klutse (Media Ministry Pastor).
Also present at the meeting were the outgoing and incoming General Secretaries of the church, Apostles Alexander Nana Yaw Kumi-Larbi and Samuel Gyau Obuobi, respectively, and PEMEM Director, Apostle Vincent Anane Denteh, who doubled as the Chairman of the NADEC Planning Committee.
In his remarks, Dr Oduro Osae noted that the report captured key issues emerging out of the conference and also provided some guidance to leadership in organising future conferences.
Thanking the Chairman for selecting them to serve the church in that capacity, Dr Osae assured leadership of their availability to put their expertise to bear whenever they are called upon.
The National Moral Vision Implementation Committee chaired by His Lordship Elder Justice Kyei Baffour, an Appeal Court Judge, was tasked to, among other things, organise a stakeholder engagement and training workshops for discussion groups; be in charge of the planning and execution of the group discussion component of the conference as well as the compilation of the output of group discussions into a moral vision document to be submitted to the leadership of the church; be in charge of the implementation of the pre-and post-conference public education plan using the developed national moral vision document; develop policy briefs on the national moral vision and its impact on societal transformation.
In his response, Apostle Eric Nyamekye, on behalf of the members of the church, thanked members of the committee for a yeoman job done.
The Chairman indicated plans to push the report to the length that will bring the needed result, stressing that all major stakeholders will be engaged to ensure that Ghana gets a moral vision document that will guide the national development and governance.
Apostle Nyamekye pointed out that there was a growing need for a national moral vision, and the church was required to play a critical role in ensuring it.
The inaugural National Development Conference, which took place from July 26 to 27, 2023, under the theme, “Moral Vision and National Development,” aimed to underscore the importance of establishing standard moral principles within a Moral Vision agenda, to guide the country’s progress.
The conference brought together over 2,000 stakeholders from across the country. The various sectors represented were national and local government units, religious and traditional leaders, policy analysts, academia, business and artisans, and the media.
Notable dignitaries present included the Vice President of the Republic, Dr. Alhaji Mahamudu Bawumia; former Presidents John Agyekum Kufuor and John Dramani Mahama; the Speaker of Parliament, Right Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin; Chief Justice, Her Ladyship Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo; Members of Parliament; Ministers of State, the Spokesperson of the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Aremeyaw Shaibu, among others.
At the end of the two-day conference, an official communique was issued, which outlined conclusions drawn from the conference and recommendations for the way forward. Some of the highlights of the Communique are:
- Integration of socially approved and accepted values and norms in the form of an agreed National Moral Code.
- Set up a multi-sectoral team facilitated by Faith-Based Organisations (FBOs) to actualise the proposed National Moral Vision.
- Religious bodies to give prominence to moral teachings and principles in their teachings.
- All levels of leadership to be re-oriented on a national transformation agenda premised on high moral values.
- Comprehensive national moral re-orientation programme, especially for the youth.
- Patriotism must be at the heart of public discourse and curricula.
- Vigorous national integrity campaign to sharpen the moral consciousness of Ghanaians.
- Prepare future leaders to appreciate the relevance of moral values in national development.
- Incorporation of a clear media accountability framework in the proposed National Moral Vision Plan.
- Issues of moral vision and national development must take centre stage in the manifestos of all political parties.
- Mechanisms to create a hostile environment for all forms of corruption; and
- Establishment of an independent National Moral and Integrity Council (NMIC) to champion the development and implementation of an agreed national moral code that would push the Moral Vision agenda.
PENTECOST NEWS.