Don’t equate appointments to elections – Bro William Orleans-Oduro

Bro William Orleans-Oduro Esq. has cautioned members of the Methodist Church Ghana not to confuse appointments with elections, stressing the need for clarity in understanding how leadership is conferred within the church.

He made this statement while delivering a talk at the 2025 Expanded General Purposes Council (EGPC), which coincided with the church’s 190th Anniversary celebrations at Cape Coast.

According to him, elections are grounded in the collective choice of the people through a transparent voting process, whereas appointments are conferred by authority, often based on trust, competence, or strategic need.

“Don’t equate appointments to elections,” he emphasized, noting that misunderstanding the difference has often led to unnecessary conflict, misplaced expectations, and challenges to leadership. He explained that elected leaders are accountable to their electorate, while appointed leaders are answerable to the appointing authority, and both must be respected.

Bro Orleans-Oduro further urged members not to undermine appointed leaders simply because they were not voted into office. Instead, he called for unity, cooperation, and mutual respect, adding that both forms of leadership are ultimately directed at advancing the mission of the church.

The EGPC, an extension of the General Purposes Council (GPC) — the highest decision-making body of the church between conferences — has become a vital platform for addressing governance issues, strengthening policy oversight, and ensuring administrative efficiency in a rapidly changing socio-spiritual environment.