Minister praises role of churches in national development

Jasikan, Aug 30, GNA - Mr Kwasi Owusu-Yeboa, the Volta Regional Minister, has said the level of socio-economic development attained by the country would have eluded it but for the involvement, support and contribution of the Church.

He appealed to the Churches and their organs to step up their programmes and activities to supplement government's development efforts for a greater effect.

Mr Owusu-Yeboa was addressing the Ninth Biennial National Rally of the Good News Choirs Union (GNCU) of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church (E.P), Ghana, at Jasikan on Sunday.

The GNCU, established in 1986, is an umbrella body of 90 Choirs of the E. P. Church with over 3,500 members throughout the country.

Mr Owusu-Yeboa appealed to the Church to sustain the crusade against moral degeneration and told the GNCU to use songs as instruments ''to minister, edify the soul, provide avenue for reflective thinking, promote Christian values and evangelism and for conflict resolution.'' The Regional Minister commended GNCU for its initiatives and support for some schools in the region and advised members to remain resolute, disciplined and committed to enable them to achieve their objectives. Rev Dr Livingstone K. Buama, the Moderator of the EP Church, called on pastors to use their pulpits to educate people in the run-up to the December elections and desist from using such pulpits for political propaganda.

He said pastors should be exceptionally neutral in order not to polarise their congregations and cautioned politicians to avoid using inflammatory remarks against their opponents.

Rev Dr Buama reminded the choirs about HIV/AIDS and said they should be morally upright. "If you are not infected directly you will be affected in a way."

Mr Fred D. Ametsitsi, the President of GNCU, said empowerment of women through income generating activities was high on their agenda and called for support from individuals and corporate bodies. An appeal for funds yielded over 22 million cedis.