President Akufo-Addo’s requests that the Seventh Day Adventist Church, or SDA, reverse its decision to abstain from voting in the election on December 7 may have been ignored, as the church maintains its stance.
Voting is a civic duty for all Ghanaians, but the Church stated in a statement that it interferes with its religious obligations on December 7, a Saturday.
The Church maintains that voting on a Saturday is incompatible with their religious convictions and requests that the EC and other relevant parties think about rescheduling the election.
“The Seventh-day Adventist Church in Ghana recognises the civic responsibility of its members to participate in the democratic process, including exercising their right to vote. However, we wish to reiterate our longstanding conviction that voting on Saturday, the Sabbath of the Lord, is not in alignment with our religious beliefs.
“The Sabbath, observed from sunset on Friday to sunset on Saturday, holds deep spiritual significance for Adventists. It is a day dedicated to worship, rest, and communion with God. Our long-standing conviction and teaching have been that members should not engage in non-religious activities, including voting. Voting on the Sabbath is therefore contrary to our understanding of its sanctity.
“The leadership of the Seventh-day Adventist Church has consistently advocated for an election date change to accommodate members’ religious observance. The Church’s efforts were based on our belief that moving the election day away from Saturday would allow all citizens, regardless of faith, to participate fully in the democratic process.
“The Seventh-day Adventist Church in Ghana respects the right of its members to vote. However, on the matter of voting on Saturday, we urge members to prayerfully ensure that their decisions are consistent with the Adventist belief on the sanctity of the Sabbath.
“While we respect the diversity of opinions within our membership, this statement, issued by the Southern Ghana Union Conference and Northern Ghana Union Conference is the Church in Ghana’s official position on Sabbath observance and voting on Saturday, December 7, 2024.”
