Agency employees may seek to “persuade others of the correctness of their own religious views” in the office, wrote Scott Kupor, director of the Office of Personnel Management, the U.S. government’s human resources agency.

Supervisors can attempt to recruit their employees to their religion, so long as the efforts aren’t “harassing in nature,” according to Kupor’s statement. Agencies can’t discipline their employees for declining to talk to their coworkers about their religious views.

The statement represents the latest effort of the six-month-old Republican Trump administration to expand the role of religion in the federal workplace.

Courts have long held that employers cannot suppress all religious expression in the workplace, but can lawfully curb conduct that is disruptive or imposes an undue hardship as long as it applies equally to members of any religion.

The U.S. Constitution’s First Amendment protects individuals’ rights to practice their religion while preventing the government from favoring one religion or another or religion in general.

OPM in mid-July said agency workers can get permission to work from home or adjust their hours to accommodate religious prayers, after previously demanding that workers report to offices fulltime.

The new statement cites President Donald Trump’s February executive order calling on agencies to eliminate the “anti-Christian weaponization of government.”

That order directs cabinet secretaries to identify federal actions hostile to Christians. Trump has embraced the conservative Christian world view and promoted policies that speak to concerns that their religious liberty is under attack.

Federal employees can also set up prayer groups in the workplace, so long as they don’t meet during work hours, Kupor’s statement said.

The memo references Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, a law that prohibits workplace discrimination based on a person’s religion or religious practices.

Kupor in the memo said that means the law requires employers to allow workers to proselytize, organize prayer groups on non-working time, and display religious icons.

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which enforces Title VII, has said that proselytizing in the workplace can amount to unlawful religious harassment if it is unwelcome and is so severe or pervasive that it creates a hostile or abusive work environment.

“A consensual conversation about religious views, even if quite spirited, does not constitute harassment if it is not unwelcome,” the agency said in a 2008 guidance document.

Kupor’s memo is not legally binding, and any court that reviews it could disagree about the scope of Title VII’s protections. But the memo could be difficult to challenge directly in court, as judges in many past cases have said they lack the power to review internal agency documents.

Reuters

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Speaking during a campaign event led by the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) running mate, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, he specifically appealed to the Christian community, asking them to reject any attempts to dissuade support for Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia based on his religion.

He emphasized that, Dr. Bawumia’s faith should not be a divisive factor in the country’s politics, especially in light of Ghana’s history of religious tolerance.

Mr. Ampratwum-Sarpong noted that, although Dr. Bawumia is a practising Muslim, he has a deep understanding of Christianity.

He urged voters to focus on the candidate’s competence and vision for the nation rather than their religious background.

“My fellow Christians, some may try to persuade you to vote against Dr. Bawumia because of his religion. Do not be swayed. Dr. Bawumia was once a Christian and understands our faith. Christians and Muslims have always coexisted peacefully. Let’s maintain that harmony” Mr.

Source: Adomonline

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His comments come in response to a recent statement by the Majority Leader Alexander Afenyo Markin, who encouraged Muslims to vote for Dr Mahamudu Bawumia based on shared religious identity.

Mr Gbande stated that, it is very dangerous to draw religion and ethnicity into the political domain.

Speaking on JoyNews’ AM Show on Tuesday, September 10, he said, “Ghana has a history of a tolerant religious establishment. So if we begin to do this, we will be dividing homes and families and setting this country up for a major conflict. What the Majority Leader said is not only condemnable but also dangerous. It sets the nation on the [Path] of religious rivalry.”

According to him, the NDC has a consistent track record of prioritising nation-building and bridging social gaps.

“Haruna Iddrisu was in Tamale over the weekend to launch the campaign. He is one of the pillars of our northern politics.

He didn’t get there because he was a Christian or a Muslim. Honourable Muntaka also was not appointed as sports minister because he was Muslim or Christian. It was basically on issues of competence and decision of leadership.”

“Leaders will come, leaders will go. So the attempt to throw in religious division by Afenyo Markin, into the NDC is not just demonic but also serialised along what we call politicians who make loose talks.

Mr Gbande called on the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to focus on their responsibilities of advancing societal development and addressing national challenges.

He urged the NPP to focus on real development and avoid making excuses for their shortcomings.

“The NPP is in power. They should lift society, they should develop society. They should build the nation and stop finding excuses for their laziness, incompetence and ignorance,” he said.

Source: Emmanuella Sarfo-Ntow

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Named: the “National Policy on Religion,” it aims to address the challenges and opportunities that arise from the coexistence of different faiths and beliefs in the country.

It will provide a framework for the protection and promotion of the rights and freedoms of all religious groups, as well as the prevention and resolution of conflicts that may arise from religious differences.

Already, 16 regional stakeholder consultations have been scheduled to commence in the next two weeks as part of the process of reviewing the policy.

Under the consultation, the country has been grouped into four zones.

Zone One, comprises the Oti, Volta, Eastern and Greater Accra regions, with Zone Two made up of the Western, Western-North and the Central regions.

The Ashanti, Ahafo, Bono and Bono East regions make up Zone Three while Zone Four has Upper East, North East, Northern, Savanna and Upper West regions.

Stakeholder consultation

At the press conference in Accra yesterday, the sector Minister, Stephen Asamoah Boateng, said the consultations, made possible through technical and financial support of the United Nations Population Fund Ghana Country Office, were crucial steps in the development of a comprehensive and inclusive policy that would promote religious harmony, diversity and tolerance in our country.

He said the consultation would be conducted in a participatory, transparent and respectful manner.

He, therefore, encouraged everyone to share their perspectives and experiences and also engage in constructive dialogue and mutual understanding, while respecting the diversity of opinions and beliefs that existed.

Before the end of this year, the minister gave an assurance that the policy would be presented to cabinet for approval.

National Policy on Religion

The government legal framework for management of religious affairs is underpinned by Article 21(1)(c) of the 1992 Constitution which says “all persons shall have the right to freedom to practise any religion and to manifest such practice.”

Under the law, all religious bodies are independent and are required to register their entities at the Registrar-General’s Department.

Mr Boateng noted that currently, there was no established governmental bodies that had oversight responsibility regarding religious activities other than his ministry.

“Since assuming office in April, this year, I have had to respond to various issues on religious activities and beliefs in the country.

I have also had opportunities to interact with leaders of religious bodies and civil societies in finding a harmonious coexistence among the citizenry.

“Part of the discussions have centred on how the religious bodies would be encouraged to put in structures to self-manage their front.

“It is in this regard that my ministry has been working with key stakeholders to put together a draft proposed government policy for direction of religion designed to protect the rights and freedoms of all citizens, regardless of their beliefs or non-beliefs,” Mr Boateng said. 

Religious leaders

The Country Representative of the UNFPA, Dr Wilfred Ochan, also noted that most people all over the world looked up to religious leaders for guidance, direction and inspiration, especially when they were venturing into new and familiar areas.

He said religious leaders were believed to have the charisma and ability to lead their followers to step into the unknown with ease and were, therefore, an essential social support for many people in their everyday life.

Faith-based organisations, he said, had unique relationships with their followers in the society and had a powerful role in shaping attitudes, opinions and behaviours.

Dr Ochan said the UNFPA recognised those unique roles of religious leaders and it was for that reason that it was partnering the ministry to ensure that together, they delivered on their collective mandate.

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Religion, Dr Bawumia stated, is a force that unites, and as such, it should not be used as a tool to divide.

The Vice President was addressing New Patriotic Party (NPP) executives and members on Friday at the National Muslim Thanksgiving Prayers in Accra, as part of activities to commemorate the NPP’s 30th Anniversary.

“Religion is a force for unity. It is not a force for division. We should never allow religion to divide us,” Dr Bawumia said.

With the party gearing up to elect its next leader for the next presidential election in 2024, Dr Bawumia said the choice of the party’s next leader, and subsequently who leads the country, should not be based on religion.

He encouraged the party to select a leader based on the person’s competence and what the next leader has to offer.

“The NPP brings people together. We have fought elections on issues, we have elected people on merit and we will not make elections about you being a Christian or you being a Muslim.

“It is about what you can do for the people of Ghana. It is about your vision and what you can do so let us stick to the issue,” Dr Bawumia added.

According to him, he is used to thinking rationally to the extent that it makes it hard for him to subject himself to religion.

He tweeted: Most religions hate logic. That’s why I can’t stand them. I am used to thinking logically.

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The outspoken public figure has on many occasions registered his detest for “fake” pastors who tend to deceive their church members to milk them.

In 2008, he posted this:

Hope is the hottest & fastest selling commodity now. That’s why many Pastors have studied how to package it and sell it. The demand is so high and the product is addictive. You can never buy enough hope. These Pastors are smart marketers o.

Meanwhile, when some of his fans disagreed with him concerning the post, he replied to reiterate his claim.

She passed by Daybreak Hitz on Hitz FM on Monday and opened up about her personal issues.

She delved deep into her life and eventually broke down when a question about her dad popped up.

Talking about religion, she disclosed that religion creates diversity but she believes there is one grand “architect” watching over the world.

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“I believe in God. I feel like where I am, if I say Jesus doesn’t exist it’s gonna be [something else], I didn’t say he didn’t exist, your communication with God is how you treat him. When you do something good, how do you feel? Its just God right there,” she answered.

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Watch the video above: