“Without such leadership, the country cannot get rid of bribery and corruption, misappropriation of state resources, political arrogance, appropriation of undeserved power and sheer malice, intimidation, greed, ethnocentrism; in short, evil godlessness,” he added.
The Most Rev. Dr. Sarpong spoke at this year’s Ephraim Amu Memorial Lecture in Accra on “The Performing Arts, Morality and Ghanaian Identity”.
The lecture series was created by the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences in honor of composer, songwriter and social activist Ephraim Amu.
It contained musical interludes and performances inspired by the works of Amu.
The Most Reverend Dr. Sarpong said at a time when even the justice system seemed to be spreading some injustices, “a time when we seem to be looking down on the biblical instruction that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of the wisdom we need the performing arts to give us.” to convey the true and abiding principles of Ghanaian life that have ennobled him all this time”.
He also said that in a world where arrogance, greed and selfishness have prevailed, the performing arts remind people who they are and that they must uphold their cherished values.
“In a world of raw individualism, arrogance, greed, avarice and selfishness, we need the performing arts to constantly remind ourselves that the Ghanaian is by nature gentle, hospitable, kind, forgiving, compassionate, confident and is inviting.
“At a time when we seem to have no respect for symbolism, we need the performing arts to pierce our skulls with the powerful message that life is not mundane but full of meaning, albeit sometimes cryptic,” added Rev. Dr. Kwesi sarpong.