Most Rev. Dr. Paul K. Boafo
The Methodist Church, Ghana, has kicked against all forms of abuse in the home, saying no one deserves to be violated.
Presiding Bishop of the Church, Most Rev. Dr. Paul K. Boafo, speaking with journalists ahead of the Easter celebrations said, “We should always bear in mind the dignity of humanity. Women, men, and children are all equal, and in the presence of God there is no one who is higher or superior than the other.”
He, therefore, urged people who are being abused in their marriages or relationships to report to the appropriate quarters to deal with it.
“So we just don’t condone and say you should continue in it, report and make the necessary arrangements for counsellors to come in, when it does not yield the necessary results, that is when the appropriate institutions set up can come in.
“It is not wise to sit in it and to die, as what we are all hearing, it should not happen that way,” he said.
His remarks come a few days after the announcement of the death of Nigerian gospel singer, Osinachi Nwachukwu, who is alleged to have died as a result of domestic violence.
Most Rev. Dr. Boafo advised pastors to ensure that abused women or men go through the proper channel for resolution.
“There are ways of resolving the issues … we can even let people pull out of such marriages, Yes it is allowed, because you cannot use your spouse as a punching bag or your home as a boxing arena, where people are battered left, right, centre, No. It should not happen,” he added.
Easter Message
Most Rev. Dr. Boafo, in his message of hope, said Easter is an opportunity to start over again.
“This is the essence of the sacrifice and resurrection of Jesus on the first Easter. Easter is a call to allow the Holy Spirit to begin transforming us as individuals and as people of the world,” he said.
The Presiding Bishop said Easter grants new mindset to address such issues, as the indiscriminate felling of trees, galamsey, pollution of the environment, and particularly water bodies, extreme partisanship, and the needs of the poor and the vulnerable in society.
“As we celebrate Easter and experience the risen Christ, let us then live in the newness and transformation He brings to society.
“Let us live as men and women of faith with new mindset for our world to address the challenging issues of deprivation, exclusion, unemployment, corruption, and all forms of abuses,” he stated.
He urged celebrants not to take the easing of COVID-19 restrictions for granted, but continue with the COVID-19 safety protocols, and also go for the vaccine to help eradicate the pandemic.
BY Jamila Akweley Okertchiri