The Head Pastor of the International Christian Faith Ministries, Rev. Dr Patrick Quainoo, has called on the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) government to collaborate with the main opposition party, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to advance the development of the country.
The two parties, he observed, had of late demonstrated their resolve and commitment to work together in Ghana’s quest to transform itself into a strong democratic nation, pointing out that their co-operation could be a breakthrough for development.
Speaking in an interview with the Daily Graphic in Accra, Rev. Dr Quainoo said the successful adjudication of the 2012 presidential election petition by the Supreme Court should serve as a springboard for the two biggest political parties in the country to shelve the ‘winner takes all’ mentality and work together for the wellbeing of the larger population.
He added that it was now time for Ghanaians to collectively concentrate on the many challenges facing the country and find ways of addressing illiteracy, unemployment, poverty and other needs.
He also urged leaders of the two parties to desist from manipulating the youth to foment trouble in the aftermath of the court’s verdict.
The country, Rev. Dr. Quainoo said, had come a long way; it was therefore necessary for Ghanaians to put the past behind them and forge ahead in unity.
He indicated that the country was at the crossroads for justice, from which peace would be realised, adding that the only way this could be achieved was for Ghanaians to fight for justice.
‘The whole nation is crying out for peace. However, without justice we cannot have peace,’ he emphasised.
Ghanaians, he said, should not bury their heads in the sand and run away from the realities on the ground, but ensure that the rule of law prevailed.
He also stressed the need for political actors to tolerate each other, pointing out that political competition was all about improving upon the lives of the people.
Rev. Dr. Quainoo congratulated the 2012 presidential candidate of the NPP, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, for accepting the Supreme Court’s judgement and calling President John Dramani Mahama to congratulate him.
That, he said, was a mark of political maturity and urged all Ghanaians to follow Nana’s example by accepting the court’s verdict.
By Debrah Fynn/Daily Graphic/Ghana