President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has harshly denounced an unidentified pastor and other people he accused of participating in polarizing religious and tribal politics, according to TV3 Ghana. The president cautioned in a public speech that such language would jeopardize the peace and harmony that Ghanaians have long experienced. "I overheard a specific pastor telling his congregation that since Dr. Bawumia is a Muslim, no Christian should vote for him. Are Muslims not people? President Akufo-Addo questioned, denouncing efforts to divide people politically through religion. Ghana has traditionally celebrated religious unity, he said, underscoring the country's long history of peaceful coexistence between Christians and Muslims.
"Religious discord and violence are not what we desire in Ghana. Religious unity is what we desire. The president went on to emphasize the value of unity in the face of possible attempts to foment strife among the nation's various faith communities by saying, "We are all one." President Akufo-Addo also condemned the exploitation of ethnic and tribal lines in politics in his speech, labeling those who employ such polarizing strategies "nation wreckers." Instead of using religious or ethnic factors, he urged political pundits and campaigns to concentrate on highlighting the qualifications and qualities of their candidates. "If you don't have anything proper to say on behalf of your candidate, don't raise tribal or religious considerations," he said with firmness.
But other social media users have criticized the president for his comments, pointing out that he remained silent about similar religious and tribal slurs made by members of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) during the campaign. Nii-Ayiku Mensah, one user, brought up an event in which Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh (NAPO), Dr. Bawumia's running partner, allegedly assured Muslim electors that voting for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and opposition leader John Mahama would be "haram." The user questioned whether President Akufo-Addo's silence on the subject amounted to acceptance of such divisive language.