"...are we saying that this budget is not for Muslims, are we saying that this budget is not for Atheist and so on, are we saying that this budget is primarily a Christian budget? Who elected this government to give us a Christian budget...?”
Managing Editor of the Insight newspaper, Kwesi Pratt Jnr made the above statement to express his dissatisfaction on what he describes as a 'Christian budget' presented in Parliament.
Finance Minister, Ken Ofori Attah during the presentation of the 2017 budget, made some references to quotations in the Bible, the Holy book of Christians.
He said: “Mr Speaker, I see our nation with this overwhelming election mandate as all having decided to withdraw in unison like Jesus to a remote place, Mr. Speaker, only to discover that we have five loaves of bread and two fishes to feed our 25 million plus fellow citizens. But herein lies the genius of the Ghanaian for we are God’s handiwork created in Christ Jesus to do good works which God prepared in advance for us to do. As you can see, Mr. Speaker, with 5 loaves and 2 fishes, President Akufo-Addo’s budget has tackled the five structural pillars of revenue, expenditure, earmarked funds, labour and our debt.”
But contributing to a panel discussion on Radio Gold's Alhaji and Alhaji programme, the senior journalist pointed out the New Patriotic Party (NPP) was not elected to give Ghanaians a 'Christian budget'.
"...are we saying that this budget is not for Muslims, are we saying that this budget is not for Atheist and so on, are we saying that this budget is primarily a Christian budget? Who elected this government to give us a Christian budget? We have Ghanaians who are Jews, we know they believe in God but do not accept the New Testament. I’m saying that when we are doing circular things we should do circular things. He kept on referring to Jesus Christ in relation to the budget. Even if Vice President Bawumia is addressing the country through Parliament and he keeps on mentioning the name of Mohammed throughout his presentation, I’ll take him on...I am not happy at all with the religious bigotry which was so vulgarly displayed in the reading of the budget and I do hope that it will not extend to other state functions “
He added that even “when late President Mills said he had banned the pouring of libation and traditional prayers at state functions, he (Pratt) sharply disagreed with him (Mills), because no religion is inferior.
"Prof. Mills was a Christian alright but he couldn’t have chosen for us all, he couldn’t have created the impression that traditional religion is inferior; he had no right to do that under the constitution. Our leaders have a responsible to treat all religions equal....When late President Mills said he had banned the pouring of libation/traditional prayers at state functions I had a problem with him. Prof. Mills was a Christian alright but he couldn’t have chosen for us all, he couldn’t have created the impression that traditional religion is inferior, he had no right to do that under the constitution. Our leaders have a responsible to treat all religions equal,” Pratt stated.
Source: Peacefmonline.com
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Pratt is evil man
There is nothing wrong for one to express his personal beliefs, but the problem with the honorable Minister was he spoke as if all present shared his belief. We should learn to be circumspect in all our dealings as Christians. @asem- Donold Trump quoted the Bible because USA was founded on Judeo-Christian values. None the less since the laws separating the State and the Church were promulgated, many in America have prostested the express Christian views at State functions. But the far right are of late awoken by the decadence of the liberal values, thus also fighting back to maintain the beliefs of their fore-fathers. Hence, the case of the USA is out of place compared to Ghana, which cannot be said to have been founded on Christian values. @Sammy- Indeed nothing that Jesus did that was wrong. However my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ respected the rule of law, that's why we have the popular quote associated with him "give what is due to Caeser to Caeser and what is due to God to God." I wouldn't have had a problem if the honorable Minister personalised his reference to Jesus as I have done above. If this was done, I guess it would have been very difficult for anyone to critize him. By doing so, criticising him would have infringed upon his right to identify with any of the religious beliefs we have in Ghana, and the explicit right to confess so. Please stop all the insultls on Kwesi Pratt Jnr, and allow objective minds to rule the platform.
This man Kwesi Pratt is a chameleon who swings from one place of convenience to another. Moslems also believe in God therefore the Finance Minister was perfectly right for putting God first. Secondly, Kwesi's comments is likely to bring division among the Ghanaians from the muslim community. Those comments were not necessary. The special prosecutor will soon ask him to explain what Ghc2000 given to him by Woyome was meant for and he is just trying to release stress.
In any serious nation, this "***barred word***" wouldn't have a platform to present his warp views and showcase his dangerous teeth. Aboabiba!!! Why didn't you find anything wrong with former President Mahala's "Nyame na esi hene" mantra. You ain't seen anything yet!!! Be ready for Bibkical references for 8 years and another 8 years of quotes from Koran when the economic whiz kid that your NDC are so fearful of have his turn. Onya flefle!!!!!
Our national anthem starts "God bless our homeland Ghana....". This man Pratt should just ***barred word*** if he has no comments to make. The man quoted from the Bible and drew literary similies from a Bible scripture to make a point about the budget. How that makes the entire budget a Christian one bits my mind, and only shallow brains and divisive people will make such comments. These NDC guys did these ethnic and religious divisions and were rejected, and they won't stop. Pratt is a nation wrecker
can someone help me? is ghana a secuare state or a christain state as some of u are mentioning. in any which way ghanaians have an enviable attitude of displaying their religion in the way they communicate be it moslem or christains meboa anaaa?.
Mr.Kwesi i respect your view and is respected but I disagree entirely it was a budget not a Christian budget for the country lets support the Min.Finance succeed
kwesi is absolutely right. ghana is a secular nation not a christian state. ken could have given his speech without the copious reference to scripture. all these years of many churches in ghana and where has that gotten us?
NS3MFO NA WOTE GHANA REDI KWASI PRATT. HW3 NA WANFA NIPA FITAA SUBAN NO BI AMMA GHANA. YETE HA YI YEMMMO MPAE WO ABAN SUKOO MU NKA NYAME HO AS3M NSO OKYEREKYERFUO TUMI KA KYERE NKWAADA S3 OBAA TUMI WARE OBAA NA OBARIMA TUMI WARI OBARIMA. S3 WO KO DOCKOT A MMERENTE3 NE MAAYEWAA PII NA 3REWUWUO WO ADUBONE NOM HO EFIRISE YEAKA ANYAMESOM HYE. NYAME NA OBETUMI AGYE YEN WO YEMODENBO MU. NTI GYAE MA AKRISTOFO NE NKRAMOFUO NDA WON GYIDIE ADI YETE GHANA YI S3 OKRAMONI KASA OSE NYIA ALLAH. NYAME WO HO. AS3M YI NHA AKRISTOFUO NE ABOSOMSOM FUO. YEBUBU YEHO NTI GYAE WO NKWASEASEMMMMMM NO KEKA MA YENTENA ASOMDWEO3 MU.
Kwesi Pratt check yourself in for mental valuation because you are depressed since NDC lost power.