President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has responded to critics who are campaigning using religious bigotry and divisiveness ahead of the elections.

According to him, such actions foster conflicts and division among citizens, leading to religious strife that could undermine the country’s stability.

In response to claims that some clergymen are urging their congregations to vote for a Christian instead of Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, who is a Muslim, Akufo-Addo fired back, asking whether Muslims are not considered human beings.

Speaking at a mini rally, Akufo-Addo highlighted Ghana's long history of religious tolerance, emphasising how the country has allowed people of all religions to coexist peacefully over the years.

“A pastor has said that Christians should not vote for Bawumia because he is a Muslim. Are Muslims not human beings? Ghana is a religiously tolerant country, and we have coexisted all these years,” he said.

Akufo-Addo went on to describe those sowing seeds of discord and preaching along tribal lines as nation wreckers, urging that such individuals should be dealt with.

He explained that the country needs leaders who will promote and encourage unity, criticising those religious mongers for campaigning along such dangerous lines.

“We don't want religious conflict and strife in Ghana. We want religious harmony. We don't want people who are divisive. People who seek to sow division on religious, ethnic and tribal lines are nation-wreckers of our country. We want people who will encourage the unity and harmony of Ghana, not division.

“If you don't have anything proper to say about your candidate, don't raise tribal or religious considerations. Ghana is far from that, and that is why we are a beacon of peace, of stability, of democratic engagement in the whole of Africa,“ he added.

Akufo-Addo, therefore, urged Ghanaians to reject and vote against any presidential candidate who fosters division and hatred among citizens, as this could jeopardize the nation's peace and stability.

“We don't want someone who will come and sow discord among us, so go out and vote on Saturday and let the world know that Ghanaians are religious tolerant,” he concluded.

MAG/AE