General News of Thursday, 14 July 2005

Source: GNA

No one chooses his ethnic group

Accra, July 14, GNA - Archbishop Charles Palmer-Buckle, Catholic Metropolitan Archbishop of Accra, has reminded Ghanaians that no one chose the ethnic group in which God placed him or her hence wherever one found himself or herself should be seen as a design of God. He said it would be an insult to God for anyone to see his or her ethnic group as superior to another.

Archbishop Palmer-Buckle was preaching to the Ghanaian Community at a thanksgiving mass at Saint Anastasia Parish, Rome to mark this year's Republic Day cerebration.

He urged all to pray to God to touch the hearts of those fanning ethnicity to see the beauty of a united Ghana.

The Archbishop, who was recently attacked by a section of the Ga people on his elevation as the Metropolitan Archbishop for not being a Ga, said it was only as a united people that "we can have the peace required for the accelerated development which will bring Ghana to catch up with the fast developing parts of the world". He prayed that Ghanaians should not take the peace and stability being enjoyed now for granted.

Archbishop Palmer-Buckle charged all to work hard to resist anyone or situation that would visit on the country the trauma and horrors experienced by other war-torn countries in Africa and elsewhere. He advised them to put Ghana first in all that they did so that the flag of Ghana would fly high wherever they might find themselves. The Archbishop told the congregation that drug peddling; prostitution and other social vices tarnished the image of the nation before other nationals.

He urged them to lead lives, which would command the respect and admiration in the foreign communities they might find themselves.