Can you imagine? with Ben Ackah-Mensah: Beware! God is a busy man

… A note to National Peace Council, Catholic Bishops’ Conference, Christian Council, others, on peace and stability in Ghana before, during and after 2024 general elections

God must be a very busy man indeed!

The National Peace Council, Catholic Bishops’ Conference, Christian Council, and other religious and secular bodies that have interests in ensuring peaceful elections, this year, 2024, and the continuation of enjoyment of normal life in Ghana, thereafter, know this fact. That, God must certainly be busy in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Somalia, Libya, Ukraine, The Democratic Republic of Congo, Central African Republic, and at many other places working to restore lasting peace.

Since 1978, Afghanistan has been through series of civil and international wars, and inter-ethnic conflicts on-and-off.

Iraq has had its fair share from 1979, particularly from the era of  Saddam Hussein, with the Iran-Iraq War (between 1978 to 1988) costing between 500,000 to 1.5 million lives, according to the World Population Review 2024. The Gulf War (1990 to 1991) too came and resulted in a civil conflict killing people and displacing others, as a segment of the Iraqi people sought to remove Saddam. Between 2003-2007, up to 1.2 million people died when Al-Qaeda and other internal regimes fought back a coalition of US forces and allies following the 9-11 attacks on the U.S., and their subsequent entry into Iraq.

In 2011, what is billed by many as the second deadliest civil war in the history of the 21^st century took place in Syria due to political dissatisfaction. (Yen pene, yen pene). The Syrian people were fed up with President Bashar al-Assad’s government and called for his removal. The protesters were violently suppressed and this led to war. In the end, there were some brutal massacres, and over six million people were internally displaced within the borders of the country alone.

They had nowhere to run to, except to some worse places within the country. (Relating this to Ghana, people would have been fleeing from some affected cities like Accra, Kumasi, and Takoradi, or from East Legon, Adenta, Ridge, Ashaiman, Kanda, Nima, etc to seek refuge in some faraway villages and towns). I hear someone shout: Torfiakwa!!! You dey there! Aside that, over five million Syrians fled the country to seek refuge in other countries. Don’t take my words for it. Go and check from the World Population Review’s war torn report 2024.

In Yemen, over 20,000 deaths were recorded in 2019 alone due to the Yemeni Civil War which began in 2014, because two political sides were claiming to be the official government of the country: the Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi-led government and the Houthi armed movement. Currently, there is widespread food shortages in the country as a result of the war, and an estimated 13 million Yemeni people are facing danger of starvation. Can you imagine? No Bush Canteen, Living Room, Efie Nkwan, Ataa or Mango Ase? Who said twiaaa? You dey there!

In 2019 / 2020, while some Ghanaians were running away from COVID-19 detention or treatment centers, Somalia had lost its ability to handle the pandemic because civil war had damaged its infrastructure and health care system. The Somali Civil War, which started in the 1980s has resulted in at least 500,000 deaths so far.

I believe we are familiar with the story of Libya and Gaddafi. Hmmm! Theirs were in two parts, with the first war starting in 2011. Boni ben? Violent protest against Gaddafi’s government. They say they no want am. Colonel too say no! E no go ‘gree. Boot for boot, poun’ for poun’, estimated 20,000 people died. 50,000 people more got injured. Ahhh! Colonel kaput? Ok ooo! Make we leave am to Allah erh? Daabi! Then, in 2014, the second one erupts. This matter be laughable sef. After clearing massa Gadaffi out of the way, two rival factions, the House of Representatives and the Government of National Accord, emerged and started fighting to take control of the Late Colonel’s Libya. About 9,000 people were reportedly killed and 20,000 plus were injured. Boni ben? War no good ooo, National Peace Council of Ghana. You hear?

There are many other countless examples but please remember the almighty Russian-Ukraine War too. Now, everyone is blaming it for their political, social and economic woes. The present government in Ghana has used it severally. Even husbands unable to give “chop money”, and potential ones unable to pay a bride price to take a wife are all blaming it on the former spymaster and the former comedian, Putin and Zelenskyy.

In all the unfortunate situations depicted above, we can only imagine the intense suffering of, especially, children, (pregnant) women, disabled, elderly and the poor. Please, don’t even attempt to imagine the fortunes of vultures, before wishing it on your worst enemy.

Those affected by the situations above are still crying up to God for salvation. Throughout the world, humanitarian agencies are running helter-skelter mobilizing aid to alleviate the plight of the needy i.e. those affected as a result of political upheavals and wars, and also victims of other disasters such as floods, bush fires, famine, earthquakes, hurricanes, tsunamis, landslides, and extreme poverty. Effects of the depleting ozone layer are causing sea levels to rise, displacing communities also. As a result, many people in the world are turning to the one and same God, be it Allah, Jah, Yahweh, or in other Supreme forms such as a river, stream, stone, mountain, sun, cow, wood carving, etcetera, for help. That’s how they perceive their god, the Supreme Being. I tell you, God is very busy.

From one form of a Supreme-acknowledging religion to the other, from country to country, and from city to city or village to village, people are beckoning at God for favour. You only have to visit a Catholic church anywhere in the world to see the number of lighted candles and bouquet of flowers arranged before saints for interventions from God. I have climbed the two hundred and ninety two (292) steps to get to the Sacré-Coeur Basilica at Montmatre in Paris, I have visited La Madeleine, the Church of Sainte-Marie-Madeleine parish at Place de la Madeleine in the 8th arrondissement of Paris, I have visited and milled among many faithful Catholics and tourists at La Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris on the Île de la Cité in the 4th arrondissement, and even ventured into the outskirts of Val d’Oise in Paris and visited La Cathédrale Saint-Maclou de Pontoise, and many other developed places such as this to witness the clamor for God. Who would have imagined that they too would bother God? But there is intense competition for God’s attention.

I can imagine a visit to the wailing walls in Jerusalem and what it means to the Jewish people and Muslims alike. Other places such as village shrines, tabernacles, and temples are full with believers seeking the face of God. Scientists cannot even fathom this ubiquitous God.

So, you see? God is a busy man. God has more pressing issues at hand at every point in time to just focus on the needs of only one. Yes! God is Omnipresent. God is multitasking. God has multi-locating powers, God is love. God will not allow any harm to come our way but it is said that heaven helps those who help themselves.

God has given us peace already, hence it is up to us to guard against all things that may affect the peace, especially during the electioneering period. That is why, for now, in Ghana, our peace calls out to God should be diverted to God’s PAs (personal assistants) in that department, the National Peace Council, Catholic Bishops’ Conference, Christian Council, and the others to avert any potential disaster.

Ghana is a God-believing country. We have already placed our request before God. The country’s National Anthem and Our Pledge both pitch out to God for help. “God bless our homeland Ghana…” and “…so help me God” are the notable references of our collective cry to God or believe in divinity as a country. Atheist or whatever, you are already bound by it.

The Constitution of the Republic of Ghana 1992 affirms this. The name of God, being the first name to be mentioned therein, appears before the name of the country. The very first sentence of this sacred national document reads: “IN THE NAME OF THE ALMIGHTY GOD, We the People of Ghana…” Therefore, God has already been placed at the apex of our national salvation and it behooves the National Peace Council, Catholic Bishops’ Conference, Christian Council, and the many other religious and secular entities that are supposed to promote peace, tranquility, harmony and continuous enjoyment of our blessings as a nation to do their work, and stop speaking big grammar.

The National Peace Council, established in 2011, more so, because they derive their mandate from a legislative instrument. It is an independent statutory national institution established by the eight hundred and eighteenth (818) Act of the Parliament of the Republic of Ghana, named The National Peace Council Act, 2011. Its core function is to prevent, manage, and resolve conflict and to build sustainable peace.

Although the President appoints its thirteen (13) Board Members, made up of some eminent religious leaders (mostly Christians and Muslims), traditional rulers, social and development workers, and gender activists and a retired soldier-cum-osofo, they are paid from our taxpayer’s money. Thus, they are accountable to the people of Ghana.

They are expected to provide all political parties, independent candidates, and other stakeholders in the upcoming national elections equal and fair attention. They are expected to be open about their dealings, be unbiased, and serve in the best interest of only God and country, and not personal interests or that of the political party of a president who appoints them.

Therefore, if the peace of this country before, during and after the elections is compromised due to their actions or inactions, they will be answerable to God, that they claim to serve, and the people of Ghana.

God has entrusted them with this noble assignment while attending to some urgent duties elsewhere. God is a very busy man. God might look away if we all fail.

The post Can you imagine? with Ben Ackah-Mensah: Beware! God is a busy man appeared first on The Business & Financial Times.

Read Full Story