Presby Church lauds government’s social interventions

The Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG) has commended the Government for implementing various social interventions “aimed at alleviating hardships and promoting social inclusion”.

The commendation was contained in a communiqué issued by the 24th General Assembly of the PCG, held at the Ramseyer Training Centre, Abetifi-Kwahu. The communiqué was read by the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church during a durbar attended by Vice-President Mahamudu Bawumia, who was the Special Guest of Honour.

The communiqué noted that, among the interventions, the Free Senior High School Programme and the increased support for beneficiaries of the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) programme stood out. It emphasised that these initiatives had had a significant impact on the lives of many Ghanaians.

Concern

The PCG, however, expressed concerns about critical issues affecting the nation. “There is a growing sentiment among the citizenry that faith and hope in the country’s ability to fulfill personal and national aspirations are waning,” the communiqué said.

“While PCG acknowledges the earnest efforts by the Government and well-meaning Ghanaians to improve the nation, the challenges continue to mount,” it indicated.

The PCG, therefore, drew the attention of the Government and other stakeholders to some identified national issues of concern.

“The 2023 Corruption Perception Index (CPI) report, released by Transparency International (TI) in collaboration with the Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII), reveals that Ghana maintained a score of 43%, indicating stagnation in Ghana’s fight against corruption over the past four years. Ghana is ranked 70th out of 180 countries, with this poor performance primarily attributed to the state of the judicial system,” it noted.

The PCG views this “as deeply troubling, as the Judiciary—a highly revered institution vital to upholding justice, law, and order in the country — had been implicated in this report.

It, therefore, called on the government to intensify efforts to strengthen its institutions in the fight against corruption.

Economy

On the economy, the PCG acknowledged the government’s ongoing efforts to secure the third tranche of $360 million from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). However, it noted that despite these efforts, the nation continued to endure significant economic hardships, particularly due to the persistent depreciation of the Cedi against major foreign currencies.

“It is widely recognized that election-year spending often exceeds budgetary limits, but this trend must be avoided this year to prevent further worsening of our economic burden,” the communiqué added.

The PCG further urged the Government to explore innovative strategies for generating additional revenue, curbing overall public sector expenditure, and strictly adhering to the budget. These measures, it stressed, were essential to alleviate the hardships faced by many Ghanaians who are struggling to make ends meet.

Peace, security

It added: “Ghana continues to be regarded as one of the most peaceful countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. However, according to the 2023 Global Peace Index compiled by the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP), Ghana has slipped from its previous position as the most peaceful country in West Africa, with Sierra Leone now taking the top spot”.

Additionally, it noted that Ghana’s ranking in Africa dropped from 2nd to 4th. It said despite this decline, the importance of maintaining peace in Ghana could not be overstated. The PCG called on all citizens to safeguard the peace the country had enjoyed for decades.

“The Government is applauded for its efforts to maintain peace and security in the country, such as the provision of logistical support for our security services,” the communiqué added.