Accra, June 26, GNA - Dr Kwame Addo-Kufuor, Minister of Defence on Monday appealed to hierarchy of the Anglican Church to endeavour to fulfil its social responsibility as a development partner of State. He said the church as part of the Christian community, had positive attributes that could assist the nation towards peace and socio-economic development.

Dr Addo-Kufuor made the appeal at the First Session of the 19th Synod of African Diocese of the Church in Accra.

The Synod under the theme "Towards a Vital, Vibrant and Viable Diocese" would provide the church an opportunity to take stock, review its policies, activities and deliberate on its role as a development partner of State.

Dr Addo-Kufuor said Christians must not only be directed and sustained spiritually but assisted to live in reasonable dignity and physical comfort.

He expressed regret that in spite of the mandate emphasized in the Holy Bible for the Church to feed, house and clothe the poor, babies were still being detained in hospitals because their mothers were unable to pay.

"The church must ensure that no baby is kept in any health facility in this country because their mothers are too poor to pay," he added.

The Defence Minister noted that major causes of recurrent conflicts in Africa particularly within the Sub-Region was bad governance, corruption, ethnic and religious intolerance therefore, the Anglican Church with a larger Christian community must influence the world towards peace and progress.

"In a poor third world country such as ours, the importance of this social function cannot be over-emphasized."

Dr Addo-Kufuor said though the Christian community in Ghana had achieved some successes in the health and education sectors, much remained to be done.

He noted that Christian Health Association of Ghana was the largest health provider next to Government, while most of the best second cycle schools were associated with religious institutions.

Dr Addo-Kufuor said most of the Diocesan Corporate Plan was concerned with obedience to the Will of God in the social, economic and political areas of life and entreated members to ensure that the decisions taken at the Synod were implemented.

Sheikh Ibrahim Cudjoe Quaye, Greater Accra Regional Minister called on the Church to help streamline activities of politicians. He said "Condemn us when we engage in activities that could bring war and conflict and praise us when we do the right thing."

Sheikh Quaye urged the Christian community to strengthen their resolve to reach the hearts of men and women who had become victims of circumstances as well as help to fight the HIV/AIDS menace.

Professor Clifford N. B. Tagoe, Acting Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana, said the Anglican Church established over 350 years ago had its share of the myriad of problems facing the Christian community and urged members to contribute towards its steady growth. Right Reverend Justice Offei Akrofi, Archbishop of the Province of West Africa of the Church, said Synod was the supreme governing body of the church and urged members to take the deliberations seriously and endeavour to implement its decisions.