Card. Turkson: Literacy Key to Good Governance

(12 May 10 – RV) Here in Rome a one day conference sponsored by the Acton Institute on the contribution of Christians to representative governments took place at the pontifical Antonianum Wednesday.

Cardinal Peter Turkson, the President of the pontifical council for justice and peace addressed participants about the specific contributions Catholic teaching offers, taking his cue from the experience of his own nation, Ghana...

“Like many other countries in Africa we went through several experiences. Having started with a democratic system immediately after independence, when then went through a few military coup d’états, an attempt by some to scorn the experience of democracy as the exploitation of the poor, which is likely to be the case for other nations, particularly those where literacy is very low”.
“The real price of democracy requires a certain appreciation of issues. So a certain amount of literacy helps the progress of democracy. In several African nations, and other developing nations where literacy is low, its difficult to make them appreciate the advantages of democracy as experienced here in the West”.

“Except that in some cases, we need to also recognise that in traditional societies some forms of democracies are practised. Village elders come together to vote together , not just the chief. But when we talk about modern forms of democracy which means appreciation for moiré complicated issues, then a certain amount of literary is useful”.