Presidential Envoy for Interfaith and Ecumenical Relations, Hon. Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, has called for sustained dialogue between the Bank of Ghana (BoG) and Ghana’s Christian community to address concerns surrounding the introduction of non-interest banking and finance.
He said meaningful engagement remained the best way to prevent misinformation, misconceptions and unnecessary anxiety over issues of national importance.
Speaking at a meeting between the Bank of Ghana and Christian clergy on non-interest banking in Accra on Monday, August 31, Mr Afriyie Ankrah commended the Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Dr Johnson Pandit Asiama, for convening the engagement.
He said the willingness of the central bank to listen, explain and engage stakeholders demonstrated a commitment to openness and mutual respect.
“Where there is insufficient information, misconceptions can easily arise. Where there is no dialogue, assumptions often take the place of facts,” he said.
Mr Afriyie Ankrah said the meeting should provide a safe platform for Christian leaders to raise genuine concerns and seek clarification on aspects of the non-interest banking framework they found unclear.
“I believe today’s meeting should be exactly that: a forum where everyone feels comfortable expressing their views, asking questions, and seeking clarification,” he said.
He stressed that stakeholders should approach the discussion with open minds, noting that the objective was not merely to exchange views but to deepen understanding and build confidence.
According to him, constructive dialogue was particularly important when differences in understanding had the potential to create unnecessary anxiety among faith communities.
The Presidential Envoy said religious communities had a responsibility to contribute positively to Ghana’s development despite differences in perspectives on national issues.
“As people of faith, we all share a common responsibility to contribute positively to national development,” he said.
He added that the ultimate objective shared by stakeholders should be to ensure that Ghana continues to enjoy peace, stability and prosperity.
Mr Afriyie Ankrah said engagements between public institutions and faith communities were essential to strengthening trust and ensuring that citizens had an opportunity to contribute meaningfully to national discourse.
He also welcomed government’s commitment to stakeholder consultation, describing such engagements as an important element of good governance.
He said institutions that remained open to listening to citizens were better positioned to build public confidence and develop policies that reflected the concerns of the wider population.
Mr Afriyie Ankrah expressed confidence that the meeting would result in a clearer understanding of the non-interest banking framework and help strengthen the relationship between the Bank of Ghana and the Christian community.
He urged participants to approach the discussions in a spirit of “oneness, sincerity and mutual respect”, stressing that whatever conclusions emerged should ultimately serve Ghana’s broader national interest.
