Professor Stephen Adei, Past Rector of the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), on Sunday observed that 50 per cent of children in Ghana do not go beyond nine years of education.

"After 55 years of independence, it is quite unfortunate to observe that as much as two thirds of the population is functionally illiterate."

Prof Adei, made the observation at the launch of the Centre for Christian Education Services International (CCESI) in Accra.

He said there was the need for quality education to be encouraged and promoted, since it was only by doing so, that progress in the various sectors of the economy could be achieved.

Touching on the launch, he said it was important that Christian centres of education were established, to ensure that men of God were truly an embodiment of what they stood for.

"High Christian values are best instilled in people when they are very young. They then grow up to have a very deep appreciation for these values," he said.

Apostle Dr Kofi Baidoo, Board Chairman of CCESI, said whilst the Christian faith had made great strides in Africa, especially South of the Sahara, the faith did not seem to be having the desired effect.

He said: "The lack of moral and spiritual guidance has affected the society badly. Educated people amass wealth through corrupt means, in-spite of all that they have learnt."

Apostle Baidoo, said the church had the responsibility to ensure that good moral principles, became the core of education.

"For a better Ghana, we would need better Christian education. We would have to revamp the entire educational system, and CCESI would become a strong instrument in boosting Christian education in Ghana."

The centre would among other things, train Christian Ministers in the faith, with the aim of encouraging high standards of Christianity within the society.