Apostle Eric Nyamekye Refutes Claims of Clergy’s Silence During Akufo-Addo’s Tenure.

Apostle Eric Nyamekye, Chairman of the Church of Pentecost, has rejected assertions that Ghanaian clergy were largely silent during the presidency of Nana Akufo-Addo. Speaking during the inauguration of President John Mahama on January 7, 2025, Apostle Nyamekye explained that several members of the clergy were, in fact, active in critiquing and engaging with the Akufo-Addo-Bawumia administration on pressing national issues.

In an interview with Oyerapa TV, Apostle Nyamekye refuted the narrative that Ghanaian religious leaders avoided discussing controversial matters under the previous government. He stressed that the clergy provided constructive criticism and made suggestions to address issues they believed required urgent attention.

However, he expressed disappointment that many of their contributions were ignored.
“We engaged the government on issues like the E-Levy and other policies, but our recommendations were not taken into consideration,” Apostle Nyamekye said.

The chairman highlighted that the clergy intentionally shifted their approach to addressing national issues. Instead of using public platforms like radio to criticize government policies, they sought private engagements with government officials. This, according to him, was a strategic decision to foster more constructive dialogue and avoid the perception of antagonism toward national leadership.

“We changed our strategy because we thought sitting on the radio and speaking against leaders wasn’t the right channel,” he explained.

Apostle Nyamekye further suggested that the administration’s reluctance to heed the clergy’s advice contributed to some of its challenges, including the eventual loss of power in the 2024 elections. He emphasized that the clergy’s criticisms were meant to guide and support the government in addressing national challenges, not to undermine its authority.