President
Nana
Addo
Dankwa
Akufo-Addo
has
appealed
to
the
Seventh
Day
Adventist
(SDA)
Church
to
reconsider
its
stance
on
not
participating
in
the
elections
due
to
religious
observance.
The
upcoming
general
elections
are
scheduled
for
December
7th,
2024.
This
date,
however,
coincides
with
the
Sabbath
of
the
Seventh-Day
Adventist
(SDA)
Church,
which
has
raised
concerns
within
the
Adventist
community
about
their
participation
in
the
electoral
process
During
his
acceptance
speech
at
Valley
View
University
where
the
President
was
awarded
a
Doctorate
Degree
President
Akufo-Addo
appealed
to
the
Church
to
reconsider
their
position.
“Today,
as
I
stand
before
this
distinguished
assembly,
I
wish
to
address
a
matter
of
great
importance
to
our
nation
–
the
upcoming
general
elections
scheduled
for
7th
December
2024,”
the
President
said.
He
acknowledged
the
significance
of
the
Sabbath
for
the
Adventist
community,
recognizing
it
as
a
sacred
day
of
rest
and
worship.
“The
Sabbath,
as
a
sacred
day
of
rest
and
worship,
holds
profound
significance
for
the
Adventist
community,
and
I
deeply
respect
and
honour
this
fact,”
he
added.
“Our
democratic
process,
much
like
our
religious
practices,
are
fundamental
pillars
of
our
society,”
he
said,
referencing
the
biblical
teaching
from
Matthew
22:21,
where
Jesus
said,
“Render
to
Caesar
the
things
that
are
Caesar’s,
and
to
God
the
things
that
are
God’s,”
to
underscore
the
importance
of
fulfilling
duties
to
both
God
and
the
State.
This
teaching,
he
noted,
calls
for
harmonising
spiritual
convictions
with
civic
responsibilities,
recognising
that
the
fulfilment
of
both
is
essential
to
the
well-being
of
the
community.
President
Akufo-Addo
urged
the
SDA
Church
to
explore
practical
solutions
that
would
enable
members
to
exercise
their
right
to
vote
without
compromising
their
religious
convictions.
“I
appeal
to
the
leadership
of
the
Adventist
Church
to
explore
practical
solutions
that
would
enable
members
to
exercise
their
right
to
vote
without
compromising
their
religious
convictions,”
he
proposed.
Such
measures,
he
argued,
would
respect
both
civic
duty
and
religious
observance,
setting
an
example
of
thoughtful
and
inclusive
leadership
for
the
nation.
President
Akufo-Addo
reiterated
his
commitment
to
ensuring
the
conduct
of
free
and
fair
elections
on
December
7th,
reinforcing
Ghana’s
democratic
credentials.
He
assured
the
nation
of
his
government’s
unwavering
dedication
to
upholding
democratic
principles
and
safeguarding
the
integrity
of
the
electoral
process.
“I
am
determined
to
ensure
the
conduct
of
free
and
fair
elections
on
7th
December,
to
reinforce
Ghana’s
democratic
credentials,
and
solidify
our
status
as
a
beacon of democracy.