Robert Osei-Bonsu, General Conference Vice President of the global Seventh-day Adventist Church, has called on Ghanaians to uphold moral values, support national development, and embrace the positive use of social media for evangelism and community engagement.
Pastor Prof. Osei-Bonsu made the remarks during a visit to the Seventh-day Adventist Church, All Nation in Adenta, where he interacted with members and the media.
His visit comes after his historic election as one of the Vice Presidents of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists during the church’s 62nd General Conference Session, making him the first Ghanaian to occupy such a high-ranking leadership position in the worldwide Adventist Church.
Before his elevation to the global role, Pastor Prof. Osei-Bonsu served as President of the West-Central Africa Division of the Adventist Church, overseeing the church’s activities across several countries in West Africa.
Speaking on the ongoing national debate surrounding Ghana’s LGBTQ+ bill, the Adventist leader said the church’s position is guided by the Bible and traditional moral values.
“For us, the Bible is the foundation of what we believe. The Bible directs our path and tells us what we are supposed to do. If the Bible says something is not good, no matter what society says, we must stand by the truth,” he stated.
He argued that beyond religious teachings, Ghanaian cultural values also oppose practices associated with LGBTQ+ advocacy.
“Traditionally, we know that this is inimical to our culture, and so we need not go there. We need to stand for the truth no matter what,” he added, while referencing the late former president John Evans Atta Mills for what he described as standing firmly for moral principles during his presidency.
When asked whether the passage and presidential assent to the LGBTQ+ bill should be a national priority, Pastor Prof. Osei-Bonsu stressed that societal values matter more than legislation alone.
“It is not about the bill being signed or not signed. The important thing is what society believes in and what we stand for as a people.
Even if there is no bill, we should still stand for morality and truth,” he said.
The Adventist leader also called for political unity and national support for the country’s leadership regardless of party affiliations.
According to him, national development can only be achieved when citizens rally behind elected leaders after elections.
“After elections, we all need to put aside political differences and rally behind the leader.
The president has been given a four-year mandate, and we must support him to ensure development and progress in the country,” he stated.
Pastor Prof. Osei-Bonsu further highlighted the growing importance of social media in modern evangelism and communication, noting that the COVID-19 pandemic transformed how churches engage their congregations.
He indicated that upcoming church programmes would place strong emphasis on media and digital outreach.
“Social media now determines much of what we do, and we cannot operate outside it,” he added.
By 1960news.com
