Countdown to Ghana Election Heightens Pressure
December 3, 2024 |
2024 is a fraught election year for both the United States and Ghana. December 7 marks election day for Ghanaians, with some fearing violent outbreaks at the polls or ballot tampering. For members of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, another layer of worry factors into election day. December 7 is a Saturday, causing Adventists to feel the simultaneous weight of their civic and spiritual responsibilities, leading them to plead with their government to move the voting day. After authorities refused to change the day, many Adventists vocalized their refusal to break the Sabbath to participate in the polls. Their response left political leaders scrambling, mainly due to the large percentage of Adventists within Ghana. Political leaders have attempted to encourage, bribe, cajole, or shame believers into taking part in the election, citing their duty as citizens above all else.
Now, three days until election day, the pressure is on. Candidates are making last-ditch attempts to plead with Adventist believers to show up at the polls. Pastor Emmanuel Kusi Appiah, the Ahafo Regional Youth Director of the Seventh-day Adventist Church shared that the official SDA church was not against believers practicing their civic duty and urged them to “allow their faith to decide for them” in both if they vote and who they vote for.
In a peace campaign organized by the Asunafo North Municipality region church in Mim, Pastor Appiah shared they will not use the churches as polling locations in observance of the Sabbath. With election day this Saturday, Adventist electorates have made videos sharing their reasoning behind why they will vote on December 7, and others sharing why they will not. As it stands, the election has sparked a meaningful conversation surrounding government representation, religious observance, and conscientious objection.
