Two pastors have mounted a strong defence for the three trapped ministers-designate, whose appointment and subsequent confirmation have been deferred, pending further investigations by the Appointments Committee of Parliament.

The pastors, Rev. Kwarteng Amaning and Pastor Addo Boateng of the Gospel Evangelical Crusades & Gospel Ministries Ghana and the Christian, Muslim Dialogue respectively, have appealed to the public to be circumspect in their comments about the evidence given by the three ministers before the Appointments Committee during their vetting a couple of weeks ago.

They argued that the case of I.C. Quaye did not have anything to do with lies, as being interpreted by what they described as a small section of the public. Reverend Kwarteng Amaning of the Gospel Evangelical Crusades, who is also the Ministerial Director of the ministry, said in the early 1940s and 50s secondary school leavers were awarded certificates in various forms, one of which was the Cambridge School Certificate, which was issued to those who completed secondary education and others who sat for other course disciplines.

According to him, I. C. Quaye?s case could be one of such cases and wondered why the minister?s statement that he had a Cambridge School Certificate should be misconstrued as his having graduated from Cambridge University in England.

He indicated that it would be a big mistake for anybody to describe I.C Quaye?s statement as a lie just because he disclosed to the committee that he had Cambridge school certificate, which was apparently destroyed during a demolition exercise in which his family house was razed down in 1963 by the then government, subsequently leading to the detention of his entire family.

He further stated that the Sheikh and his family did not only lose their house and properties, but also lost his brother and two of his children during the said political crisis which, according to him, gave the country the true democracy it is enjoying today.

These were contained in a statement copied and signed by Joe Amissah-Hayford, the deputy general secretary of the church ministry, to the press on Wednesday.

According to the pastors statement, livestock and crop farms belonging to the Sheikh?s family were all destroyed and therefore he was appealing to the public not to open the old bitter wounds of the regional minister-designate but rather allow the Appointments Committee to discharge their constitutional duties.

?In our position as ministers of the gospel, we condemn the allegation against the minister-designate which sought to create the impression that he was a fake Muslim and sheikh,? the pastors stated.

Further, the statement stressed, ?We also could not understand why the petitioner should question the religion of the I.C. Quaye, knowing very well his capability as a member of the Muslim World Governing Body in Saudi Arabia.?

Pastor Addo Boateng, the chairman of Christian, Muslim Dialogue, in his contribution, also stated that the practice of always criticizing leaders of the nation is not the best.

He stressed that Ghanaians ought to learn to encourage our leaders rather than the usual ?pull him down? attitude.

He therefore urged all Ghanaians not to support those he described, as confusionists, who always play controversial roles, be it in the church, mosque, and politics or in the media.

On Anane?s case, the statement said, ?Let us conquer what has happened with good by judging him on his performance for the past four years in office.?

It further stated that the wayward minister-designate should rather be given the necessary encouragement to cater for the innocent child.

It again stated that without prejudice to the case against Isaac Edumadze, they were appealing to the public and the media to consider him by his background as an energetic young politician, who always has the zeal to go an extra mile in his life.

?We need personalities like him in our political history and in this vein appeal to the Appointments Committee and its sub committee to treat the nominees by tempering justice with mercy,? it added.

It also commended the Appointments Committee for the good work done, especially the minority members in the committee, who have contributed greatly to the successful work of Parliamentary business.