Engage SDA members to vote on December 7 despite Sabbath observance – COKA

Former NPP Ashanti Regional Chairmanship aspirant, Odeneho Kwaku Appiah, popularly known as COKA, has urged authorities to engage with the leadership of the Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) Church to encourage its members to participate in the upcoming December 7 elections, despite the day falling on their Sabbath.

In a Facebook post on Sunday, October 13, COKA, while expressing his admiration for the momentum generated by the NPP’s running mate, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh (Dr. Napo), in the ongoing campaign for the party’s flagbearer, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, noted that the party had fruitful interactions with various religious groups, including the SDA Church.

However, he highlighted the SDA Church’s concern about the December 7, 2024 election date, which falls on a Saturday—their Sabbath day—emphasising that their large membership is too significant to be excluded from exercising their franchise.

“The SDA has a church strength of over 800,000 members, with a youth wing population of 70% of this figure. No one should be disenfranchised because of his or her faith,” he said.

Although recognising the deep spiritual significance of the Sabbath for Adventists, COKA urged the church to reconsider their stance for this election.

“Yes, the Sabbath day holds deep spiritual significance for Adventists, but they know that the Sabbath was made to meet the needs of people, and not the other way around,” he explained.

COKA commended the SDA leadership for engaging with stakeholders, including Parliament and the Electoral Commission, to lobby for a future change in the election date, adding political parties have agreed to implement measures ensuring that by 2028, the law is amended to accommodate all religious groups.

In the meantime, he urged the SDA leadership to encourage their members to participate in the upcoming elections, stressing that as a civic responsibility and a Godly work.

“The country must not leave them out of the December 7 elections. While we wait for the future change of the law, I want to plead with the SDA leadership to please encourage your members to go and vote on December 7.”

“Voting in elections is a civic responsibility and a Godly work. Yɔnko dɔ oooo, Biako yɛ”, he stated.