Civil Society group, IMANI Ghana has lashed out at the Ministry of Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs over its decision to facilitate Christian pilgrimages.
The Sector Minister, Samuel Kofi Dzamesi on Friday announced that his Ministry had already set up committees to oversee the planning and operations of Christian pilgrimage in the country.
[contextly_sidebar id=”EWxC7eT2qdejD9DYfe22oxoX3NLprR0L”]“Let me assure you that we intend to have an eventful pilgrimage. In view of this, the Ministry has set up two sub-committees which are the Planning and Screening Committees which are composed of members of recognized Christian bodies,” he said.
Mr. Dzamesi pointed out, “The pilgrimage programme of the Ministry is not to the State of Israel only, but would cover countries where Christian pilgrimages are undertaken.”
He explained that government is in talks with Israel to ensure that a special quota is given to Ghanaian pilgrims.
“Once the initial programme is successful in accordance with the key indicators, the Republic of Ghana shall be given a quota for subsequent pilgrimages. It is necessary that we secure an understanding of the quotas,” the Minister stated.
The policy implementation is expected to begin this year [2017] with one hundred Christian pilgrims being facilitated.
President of IMANI Ghana , Franklin Cudjoe however told Citi News the move is needless since there are other entities already facilitating these trips.
“I think clearly that the Ministry of Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs has no work to do and I get worried… It appears to me they have no work to do that is why they will be thinking of organizing trips to Isreal and other parts of the world. It is needless because already, there are entities and private organisations that organise these trips. There are many travel and tour agencies that organise these trips every year…They need to get serious.”
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By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana