To keep the peace as election day gradually draws near and prevent clashes that may occur as a result of misunderstanding between Christian party supporters and sympathizers, the leadership of the Full Gospel Church International (FGCI) has asked all of its branches in Ghana to refrain from singing songs adopted by some political parties in Church. Members of the FGCI have also been instructed to refrain from wearing party colours to church and dancing in songs in a way suggesting one belongs to one party or the other.
A memo bearing the instruction and admonishment and titled; FCGI Plan of Action Towards Sunday December 7th Elections and issued on October 27, 2008 which was signed by the President of FGCI, Rt. Rev Samuel N. Mensah was read to all parishioners of the Church’s branches on Sunday November 2, 2008. The memo however enjoined all eligible church members to make sure they cast their votes on Election Day, asking that church services should begin at eight o’clock and end at 10 o’clock am on that day to enable members exercise their franchise. The following is the memo:
God bless our home land Ghana - make our Nation great and strong. :- Reference to the General Elections which comes off in December 7, 2008, the National Executive Council (NEC), as part of its ensuring peace and tranquility in our churches and neighborhood, particularly before, during and after the elections, has resolved that these directives be followed by all FGCI Church in the country churches in the country:
i. Sunday Services would be held from 8:00am – 10:00am.
ii. This will allow church members to exercise their franchise;
iii. Pastors to lead their congregation to pray for peace elections;
. It will be a casual wear service
2. Conduct of Church between now and after elections:-
i no church member is to clad in any party colours, dress or paraphernalia in any church activity.
ii. since some of the parties have adopted some of the gospel songs, the music department should refrain from the use of these songs till the swearing-in of a new President
iii. Members are to avoid the use of dancing, action symbols of any political parties
iv members who are sympathetic towards any political party should avoid any form of celebration which might provoke someone in the neigbourhood or elsewhere during or after the declaration of results.
Long Live Ghana – Long live our motherland! Thank you. Yours in His Service, RT. Rev. S. N. Mensah
It will be noted that the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) has adopted ‘Go high’ and ‘Moving Forward’ by Gospel musicians Phillipa Baafi and Christiana Love respectively as some its campaign songs, while the largest opposition party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has also modified Pastor Lenny Akpadie’s Most High for its campaign among others.
