Kumasi ( Ashanti Region) 20 April 

Mr Kojo Yankah, Ashanti Regional Minister, on Monday said the nation could hardly make any headway in its development efforts if Ghanaians continued to show indifference, hatred and are suspicious of one another.

Meaningful development could only take place in an atmosphere devoid of rancour and bitterness.

This was contained in an address read for the Regional Minister, at this year's Conference of Asante Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG) in Kumasi.

The five-day conference is under the theme: "Turn to God, Rejoice in Hope". Mr Yankah called on the church to help shape the moral lives of its members and to use the pulpit and groups in the church as instruments to turn people from social vices. "Any society which abandons the path of virtue, exemplified by love, understanding and good morality is surely destined to be destroyed", he added.

The Regional Minister pointed out that in discharging their responsibility to educate their members on national policies and issues, churches must place emphasis on the need for love and understanding, honesty, probity and hard work among the congregation.

Reverend Dr Kofi Effah-Ababio, Asante Presbytery Chairman of PCG, called for co-operation and teamwork among the Pastors, Catechists and Presbyters to serve the Lord and His church faithfully. He pledged the church's support to the state in the fight against social vices that have plagued the country, to pave the way for meaningful socio-economic development.