Anglican Diocese of Kumasi Synod opens

Kumasi, Aug. 26, GNA - Dr Kwame Addo Kufuor, Minister of Defence, on Thursday called on the Church to work hard to strive to become an effective partner in the socio-economic development of the country. The Minister, who was speaking at the first session of the 12th synod of the Anglican Diocese at the Saint Cyprian's Anglican Cathedral in Kumasi, urged the Church and State to collaborate efforts towards the development of the country.

The four-day synod being attended by 150 delegates is under the theme: "Church Without Walls".

Dr Addo Kufuor urged Christians unite and contribute positively to the development of the country adding, "We must let our light shine in a dark world and bring hope and comfort to our brothers and sisters far and near."

He asked members of the Synod to pray for peace before, during and after the 2004 Elections.

The Right Reverend Daniel Yinkah Sarfo, Anglican Bishop of Kumasi, said the Church would continue its advocacy and prophetic roles to ensure peace, justice, and elimination of ignorance and poverty towards good governance.

He announced that, plans were far advanced by the Church to establish a Technical University to promote education in the country. Rt Rev Sarfo also said the Church would soon establish an endowment fund in the Kumasi Diocese to enable it initiate more development projects to improve the standard of living of the people. He exhorted Ghanaians, including politicians to build on the foundation for development by their forefathers instead of striving for personal gains.

Rt Rev Sarfo also called for peace and stability to entrench the country's young democracy for national development. Rev Dr Yaw Frimpong-Manso, Ashanti Regional Presbytery Chairman and the Moderator-elect for the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, in a fraternal message, called on Churches to unite and promote the development of the country.