Ghana’s Bishops urge President Mahama to heal divisions and safeguard national unity

The Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference (GCBC) has called on President John Dramani Mahama to take bold and deliberate steps to heal political divisions and safeguard national unity. The appeal was made during the Bishops’ first official audience with the President since his inauguration in January 2025, held at Jubilee House in Accra.

During the meeting, the Bishops warned that Ghana’s longstanding reputation for peaceful democratic governance is under threat from intensifying political polarisation, ethnic mistrust, and growing public disillusionment. They cited persistent land disputes, chieftaincy conflicts, and electoral violence as major contributors to national instability and urged the government to usher in a new era of inclusive and reconciliatory leadership.

Most Rev. Matthew K. Gyamfi, President of the Conference and Bishop of Sunyani, expressed concern over what he described as an increasingly adversarial political culture that prioritises power over service. “Let us build a politics that serves not itself, but the people,” he said. “A politics that is not about the survival of the fittest, but about the flourishing of the weakest.”

The Bishops referenced data from the Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), which recorded 76 violent incidents related to the 2024 general elections, including six deaths, 46 injuries, and 24 cases involving the destruction or seizure of public property. They noted that electoral violence has remained a recurring feature of Ghanaian democracy since 1992, despite the peaceful transfer of power on four occasions in the Fourth Republic.

Beyond election-related unrest, the Bishops highlighted ongoing conflicts over land and traditional authority, particularly in flashpoint areas. They argued that these disputes, left unresolved, continue to undermine social cohesion and development efforts. The Bishops also noted the rise of vigilantism and a pattern of politically motivated dismissals in public institutions, which they said deepens mistrust and resentment among citizens.

In response, the GCBC proposed several measures aimed at restoring public confidence and promoting unity. Among their key recommendations was the creation of an Independent Commission for Democratic Integrity, equipped with investigative and prosecutorial powers to hold individuals accountable for political misconduct. They also advocated for the establishment of a Biennial Interparty Forum led by faith-based and traditional authorities, where stakeholders could meet to resolve national issues through dialogue and consensus.

The Bishops called for the institutionalisation of a civil service charter to protect public servants from political victimisation. They further recommended the reform of campaign finance laws and the strengthening of electoral security protocols to ensure that elections remain credible, peaceful, and transparent.

Most Rev. Gyamfi noted that while the Church does not seek political power, it has a moral obligation to speak out when the conscience of the nation is at stake. “As shepherds of the soul, we do not seek to govern, but we are called to guide, to remind, and to raise our voice when the nation’s conscience trembles,” he said.

The Bishops concluded by urging President Mahama to rise above partisanship and lead a new politics of healing, equity, and shared responsibility. “The future of Ghana’s democracy,” Archbishop Gyamfi said, “depends not on political parties alone, but on the ability of all stakeholders, religious, civic, and governmental, to work together for the common good.”