‘Ignorance, bane of political animosity’

In the heat of the political season where politicians are canvasing for votes throughout the country, Most Rev. Peter Kwasi Sarpong says ignorance is the bane of political animosity.

He said ignorance is at the root of religious and political intolerance, making opponents see nothing good in the other party.

The Emeritus Archbishop of Kumasi Catholic Archdiocese, recently said this at the Christ the King Parish Hall, Accra during the launch of his book titled: Archbishop Sarpong explains Key Christians Topics.

The 105 page book with seven chapters, published by the Standard Newspapers and Magazines (SNAM) Ltd, seeks to clarify some key Christian topics including the Church in Promotion of a Good Political Life in Ghana; Papal Infallibility; Veneration of Saints and Sacraments of the Catholic Church.

Speaking at the launch, Archbishop Sarpong, stated that “ignorance makes us condemn and criticize and deplore what we don’t know with glee”.

“We condemn people not because we know they have done something evil, but, because we don’t know the truth about them. We are ignorant,” he opined.

He stressed that “ignorance is a disease” and added that “many have suffered untold hatred and persecution because some didn’t have all the facts about them”.  

Touching on two types of truths, the erudite Author credited with 27 books, said a person who knowing the truth but misrepresent the facts to others would be telling an untruth, a lie, but a person who honestly and sincerely sees the facts in different perspectives other than the actual truth will also be telling untruth.

“Yet of the two untruths the second one is the most dangerous” he noted, explaining that the teller of the second untruth can never change his mind if he really saw the fact differently.

“Most of the troubles of this world are due to this kind of untruth” the Archbishop said, arguing further that “the root cause of such destructive untruth is ignorance.

Bearing in mind the potential havoc ignorance could wreck in our society, Archbishop Sarpong, cautioned Ghanaians to take a cue from the harm ignorance in religious matters can cause, and desist from making pronouncements on anything unless we are absolutely certain of whatever we talking on, be it political, religious, economical, education or whatever.

Mrs. Dzodzormenyo auctioning the books

Proceeds of the books auctioned by Mrs. Peggy Dzodzormenyo would be used to procure new printing machines for SNAM Ltd.

In his remarks, Mr. Kwasi Ofori-Kuragu, Acting Managing Director of SNAM, thanked the Archbishop for his tireless effort in educating and sensitising people through his teachings and insightful and well researched write-ups.

He also commended Sir Isaac Fritz Andoh, immediate past Managing Director for starting the project.

A Section of the public at the Launch.

The President of the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference, Most Rev. Joseph Osei-Bonsu was among dignitaries at the function, chaired by Sir Daniel Gyimah and graced by the Prince of Peace Choir from Kwashieman.