Accra, Feb. 20, GNA – The Christian Council of Ghana (CCG) on Friday commemorated the World Day of Social Justice, calling on government and stakeholders to eliminate systemic discrimination, economic disparities and poor governance that impede inclusive socio-economic prosperity.
The Council prayed that the world, particularly the Global South, would experience genuine freedom and justice anchored on collective welfare rather than the interests of a privileged few.
The Day is on the theme: “Empowering Inclusion: Bridging Gaps for Social Justice.”
In a statement signed by The Reverend Dr. Cyril G.K. Fayose, General Secretary of the CCG, the Council expressed solidarity with the global call to dismantle barriers of exclusion, inequality and marginalisation.
“We do so not merely as a civic responsibility, but as a moral obligation and profound expression of our faith in the God who declares: ‘Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; love and faithfulness go before you’ (Psalm 89:14),” it said.
The statement noted that the divine proclamation resonated with Ghana’s national motto, “Freedom and Justice,” inscribed on the Coat of Arms at independence as a covenantal aspiration for freedom from bondage and equitable treatment for all citizens, regardless of socio-economic status or religious background.
It said empowering inclusion meant extending the promise of freedom to persons still constrained by poverty, discrimination, unemployment, disability, gender inequality, rural neglect and inadequate social protection.
“It means ensuring that justice is not a distant ideal but a lived reality where the widow, the orphan, the stranger, the youth and the aged experience the dignity God intends,” the statement added, citing Deuteronomy 10:18 and Isaiah 1:17.
It commended President John Dramani Mahama for policies geared towards promoting social justice, including the National Apprenticeship Programme, MahamaCares (Ghana Medical Trust Fund), the “No-Fees-Stress”, Free Tertiary Education for Persons with Disability, Free Sanitary Pads Distribution, the Adwumawura Programme, expansion of the LEAP Programme, and Free Primary Healthcare.
However, the statement noted that effective and equitable implementation of those policies would be critical to ensuring that targeted beneficiaries genuinely benefitted to ensure the nation progressed in a just and inclusive manner.
The government alone could not fully advance social justice, the Council said, and urged religious bodies and development partners, including the United Nations, to collaborate in addressing inequalities, particularly in regions where race, gender, sexuality and economic status limited access to basic rights and essential services.
The CCG also expressed the hope that the persistent “no bed syndrome” in healthcare facilities would soon be eradicated, describing it as an affront to social justice.
“Every Ghanaian or resident deserves emergency care to stay alive and fulfil their God-given potential,” it said.
The commemoration coincided with the third day of Lent, a season of penitence, reflection and charity, urging citizens to allow the principles outlined in Isaiah 58:1–12 to inspire acts of justice towards the poor and vulnerable.
It prayed that the observance, celebrated globally, under the auspices of the United Nations, would draw humanity closer to its divine calling to be one another’s keeper and foster a more equitable, peaceful and prosperous world.
GNA
Edited by Agnes Boye-Doe