Kumasi, Jan. 1, GNA - The Anglican Bishop of Kumasi, the Right Reverend Dr Daniel Yinkah Sarfo, has asked Ghanaians to grow spiritually, mentally, socially and physically as they progress in life.

Delivering a New Year Message he said Christians should express hope and make right choices and decisions, confess their wrong doings to God for forgiveness and pray hard towards the goal of salvation. Rev. Sarfo prayed that God would lead the nation into a prosperous and peaceful year full of progress, unity and growth.

"May He protect us and the nation in the ensuing year and may the year be a year of blessing and breakthrough, faith, steadfastness and love," he said. In another development, Rev. Father Stephen Opoku, Assistant Parish Priest at the St. Paul's Catholic Church at Amakom, has called on the youth not to be blinded by fashion and modernism to adulterate the nation's rich cultural heritage.

He said the current dress code, which compelled some ladies to expose parts of their body under the pretext of fashion was not only bad but against the teachings of the scriptures. Rev. Fr. Opoku was preaching at a watch night service to usher in the New Year.

He asked Ghanaians to be mindful of the signs of the times and desist from any activity that could separate them from the love of God. Rev. Fr. Opoku expressed worry about parents who shirk their responsibilities and expose their spouses and children to social vices such as drug addition, prostitution and armed robbery. He called on Christians to pray for the leadership of the nation so that they can put in place the best policies that can support the nation's development agenda, to enhance the living standards of the people.