PHOTO: Bishop Kortu Brown, LCC President
By Augustine Octavius, augustineoctavius@gmail.com
Monrovia- A two-day conference by the Liberia Council of Churches in collaboration with the All African Council of Churches has ended, with a call on the George Weah government to take robust action by investigating and bringing to a complete halt all ritualistic killings, disappearances as well as all forms of human rights abuses around the country.
The Christian clerics’ call is contained in a resolution issued at the end of the conference at the weekend.
They also called on the CDC government to ensure that peace prevails in the country, as Liberians prepare for the holding of the 2023 presidential elections.
The concern raised by Church leaders comes in the wake of a rise in ritualistic killings, mysterious deaths and disappearances in recent times. In some instances, the lifeless bodies of a number of persons who had gone missing have been discovered in various parts of the country, in some cases with parts missing.
Christian clerics’ call on the government also comes in the wake of recent startling revelations and allegations made by the indicted former Liberia Roberts International Airport Managing Director, Ellen Corkrum against the country’s Solicitor General, Cllr. Syrenius Cephas that he and a former LURD rebel leader were allegedly involved in sacrificing virgins for ritualistic purposes.
But SG Cephas has since denied the claims and said he can never be involved in such ritualistic practice, because he is “a devout Christian”.
The Liberian Council of Churches (LCC) resolution, read by its President Bishop Kortu Brown, also asked the National Elections Commission to ensure that the 2023 presidential election is conducted using biometric system.
The conference delegates mandated the LCC to continue to strengthen peacebuilding and reconciliation through regular engagement with the government, the political parties, civil society organizations and external partners for the sustenance of peace in the country.
The Christian leaders also instructed the LCC to strengthen society values through the religious education and liberty.
The heads of churches in Liberia encouraged the council to make political parties to remain engaged through political dialogue and negotiation, the promotion of peace reconciliation and security.
According to Bishop Brown, the conference resolved for increased participation, good governance, electoral reforms including the introduction of the biometric systems for the 23 presidential and legislative elections
The Church leaders called for a national plan of action against the fight against corona virus and other diseases.
Need to end impunity, corruption and bad governance
The just ended LCC conferees resolved for the effective implementation of a national reconciliation road map for healing in Liberia.
At the same time, the conference called on the government to immediately end all forms of impunity, corruption, bad governance, mob or in justices and sexual and gender-based violence
The Liberia Council of Churches has also recommended the review of the prevailing economic, the tariff structures and high prices of basic commodities on the Liberian market.
All African Council of Churches urges gov’t to listen
In Remarks, the President of the All African Council of Churches, the Right Bishop Arnold Temple called on the Liberian government to listen the Liberia Council of Churches especially on the recommendations on the prevailing situation in the country
The President of the All African Council of Churches condemned the coup in Guinea and Mali and called for the restoration democracy immediately.
Bishop Arnold Temple
“We want to see continuous peace and stability in Africa. If the churches were taking such actions in Mali and Guinea, we will not be seeing military intervention in politics and imprisoning politicians,” said the All African Council of Churches President.
Bishop Temple also called for a complete halt to wars in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, Chad, Libya and Cameroun
The conference, which brought together church leaders for various denominations, centered on practitioners’ roles in deepening culture of peace and peaceful co-existence .
The conference was held on the theme: “Strengthening Peace Consolidation, Church Leaders in the Covid -19 Response and Recovering Process.