Church leader advises students

Ho, July 11, GNA- The Reverend Ralph Mac Attih, National Director of Global Evangelical Students and Associates, has advised the youth to make productive use of their time and youthfulness.

He was speaking on the topic: "Time and Youth, Two non-renewal but vital resources for sustainable development", at the first Regional Youth Rally of the Volta Region Students Association of Ghana (VORSAG) in Ho on Saturday.

It was under the theme, "Standing up to the challenges of our time: The role of the youth" and marked the end of a one- month voluntary teaching in schools and colleges in the region by University and Polytechnic students.

Rev. Attih observed that many people started their lives on good foundations characterised by "good education, good courses, good parents, good money, good family heritage and good family background, but made a shipwreck of their lives", because they moved according to the circumstances of their lives instead of a determined effort to achieve something.

"You cannot live life passively, you cannot expect the currents of life to throw you on a good shore, or a shore of fortune twenty years from today", he told the audience, mainly second cycle students.

Rev. Attih therefore, urged the youth to base their lives on calculation, determination and precision because people who were able to make it in life did not reach where they got to, "simply because God blessed them, or because good luck shines upon them".

He therefore, exhorted young people to fashion out concrete agenda and defined visions for their lives to keep focused on their purposes in life rather than wandering about from jobs, relationships, churches or other externals in the hope that each change will settle their confusion "or fill the emptiness in your heart."

Rev Attih warned the youth against procrastination, because "tomorrow is the only day in the year that appeals to the lazy man, rather, success comes to the man who does today what others were thinking of doing tomorrow."

Mr Paul L.K. Avornyo, an Assistant Director In-Charge of Human Resource Management and Development at the Volta Regional Directorate of the Ghana Education Service (GES) reminded the youth that going through the mill of career development was not sufficient to make them first class "employee-designate."

"If you should become employed by someone, let it be on merit, your services meriting indispensable utility player role at the enterprise. Otherwise your career development process should lead you straight into very gainful and rewarding self employment..." Mr Avornyo exhorted.

He urged the youth to build their lives on the foundation of discipline, develop informed opinion on issues, be modest and exercise good conscience in all things, but above all, anchor their lives on the power of God in order to have fulfilled lives."