The General Superintendent of the Assemblies of God Church, Rev Dr Stephen Wengam, has urged law enforcement authorities to ensure that the law takes its course against individuals who were involved in acts of looting and vandalism after the 2024 general elections.
This call comes in response to incidents of destruction and looting reported in various parts of the country by some alleged perpetrators identified as supporters of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).
The incidents of looting and vandalism after the 2024 general elections have raised concerns about the growing culture of impunity in the aftermath of elections.
These post-election disturbances have prompted calls from various quarters for swift investigations and prosecutions.
Rev Wengam, in a media engagement in Accra on Sunday, stressed the importance of upholding the rule of law to deter similar actions in the future.
“After every major milestone like this, we want to believe that the major stakeholders, the parties, EC will sit and reflect and look at the pluses and minuses and let’s work on them immediately. We shouldn’t wait till the next four years before we begin to address some of the concerns and also the spate of looting and vandalism, I condemn it. I join well-meaning Ghanaians to condemn it, and the law must take its course.
“Whoever is found culpable irrespective of political colour, I think that the laws of this country must work and that will serve as a deterrent. The normal thing is that we make noise after this and we shelve it and that culture of impunity seems to be gaining ground in this country. I commend Ghanaians for the peaceful elections that we have witnessed,” Rev Dr Wengam said.
Meanwhile, the Israeli Ambassador to Ghana, Roey Gilad, on Sunday, December 29, 2024, joined the Cedar Mountain Chapel to mark the Jewish festival of lights known as Hanukkah.
In a media interview, he expressed Israel’s readiness to strengthen bilateral relations with the incoming John Mahama-led administration, set to assume office on January 7, 2025.
He also called on the new administration to support Israel by backing the country in terms of voting during international forums following a warm reception received at the church.
“I always tell the leaders of the outgoing administration and of course the incoming new administration that I hope that when Ghana is going to vote at international forums either in Geneva, they will bear in mind what the wonderful people of this church think about Israel, not only what the African Union in Addis Ababa think about Israel,” he said.
Deputy Minister of Finance for Namibia, Maureen Hinda-Mbuende, who also attended the church service, called for initiatives such as “Beyond the Return” to be sustained.
This follows the commemoration of the 8th anniversary of 34 Africans of the Diaspora Granted Ghanaian Citizenship in 2016 which gave birth to the Year of Return concept.
“The whole gathering was literally looking at beyond the right of return. It is worth mentioning that it is not a coincidence that President Mahama is returning to office to take that initiative to the next level. Africans in the diaspora need reconnection to Africa.
“Ghana being the host of our father of Pan Africanism, Kwame Nkrumah, I think it is just befitting and the right thing to do for Ghana to be the country that will open its doors first. I encourage the rest of Africa to follow suit,” she stated.
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