Apostle Eric Nyamekye, Chairman of the Church of Pentecost, has revealed that the clergy advised the Akufo-Addo government on various issues, including the Electronic Transfer Levy (E-levy), but their counsel was largely ignored.
Speaking to Oyerepa News during the inauguration ceremony of President John Mahama, on concerns by Ghanaians that, the clergy was mute under the Akufo-Addo-led NPP government despite being vocal in 2016 under the then NDC administration, Apostle Nyamekye stated he was not appointed as Chairman of the church of Pentecost however when he assumed office during the NPP government, he together with the clergy decided to approach the president and counsel him.
“In 2016 I wasn’t in office but when I was elected as Chairman of the Church of Pentecost, we (clergy) decided to devise a new strategy. Instead of using our churches or radio stations to criticize our leaders we thought, it wasn’t right, so we needed to approach them and advise them.
It’s the same way we are going to do under Mahama administration.
If you want someone to repent, you don’t stand behind your pulpit and criticize the president. The president has to be respected so we decided to approach them and give out the necessary advice.”
Apostle Nyame added that the clergy had cautioned against implementing the E-levy altogether, citing concerns that Ghanaians would find ways to evade it but it never worked out. However, they suggested a reduction in the E-levy percentage rate, which was eventually implemented.
According to him, the clergy advised the Akufo-Addo-led administration on many things behind closed doors, but he did not listen.
“When the E-levy issue came up, we advised the government, we even helped in reducing the percentage rate.
We advised the Akufo-Addo government on many things, which they refused to take seriously. For instance, the E-levy. We thought at that time it wasn’t necessary for implementation because Ghanaians could dodge it, but they refused to listen. So, contrary to what people are saying that we did talk, I will say we engaged the government, but we did it respectfully,” Apostle Nyamekye told Kwesi Parker Wilson.
Source: Oyerepafmonline.com/Joseph Marfo
