Minister for Agriculture, Bryan Acheampong, has called on the Seventh-day Adventist Church (SDA) to permit its members to vote alongside security personnel in Ghana. He pointed out that the SDA’s 800,000-strong membership faces disenfranchisement due to their faith.
Acheampong emphasized that no one should lose their right to vote because of their religious beliefs.
“Kindly join me in calling on the EC to allow the Seventh Day Adventist Church (SDA) to vote with the security agencies. The SDA has an 800,000+ strong Ghanaian membership that is disenfranchised because, by their faith, they do not work on Saturdays and, therefore, do not vote,” he tweeted.
In a related call, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo urged the SDA to reconsider their decision to abstain from voting on December 7 due to the Sabbath.
Speaking at Valley View University, where he received an honorary Doctorate, Akufo-Addo highlighted the critical role of participating in elections.
“Our democratic process is fundamental to our society, and the right to vote is a sacred trust bestowed upon each one of us as citizens of a democratic nation. By participating in the elections, we fulfill a moral duty to contribute to the common good,” the President stated.
He urged the Adventist community to find practical solutions that enable their members to exercise their right to vote without compromising their religious convictions, ensuring every Ghanaian can shape the nation’s future.
