Accra, July 19, GNA- The First Lady, Mrs Ernestina Naadu Mills on Sunday commended the Bible Society of Ghana (BSG) for distributing 500,000 bibles free of charge to junior high schools (JHS) in the country since May 2007.

Mrs. Ernestina Naadu Mills, who was the former First Vice President of the society, appealed to the beneficiary pupils to make good use of the specially designed bibles so that it could have positive impact on their lives. The first lady was speaking at a thanksgiving service of the BSG at the La Bethel Presbyterian Church. She commended the society for embarking on the project to supply one million bibles to JHS pupils and urged the members not to relent in their efforts.

The project which was meant to commemorate the golden jubilee celebrations of Ghana's independence was estimated at 7. 5 million Ghana cedis.

Mr. Kofi Owusu, General Secretary of the BSG, said the project was adopted to give pupils the opportunity to experience the life transforming power of God through His word, thereby helping to curb indiscipline in basic and secondary schools. "This in turn will help to raise a crop of future leaders whose lives would have been impacted by the word of God and are willing to lead lives of integrity and to serve mankind," he added. Mr Owusu thanked individuals, churches and corporate organisations, for contributing towards the project.

He said the seed money, which kicked started the project was 50,000 Ghana cedis, received in 2006 from a lady who wanted part of her retirement benefits to assist others. Mr. Owusu said La Bethel Presby church was chosen to celebrate the mid-point of the project, due to its immeasurable assistance to the Society.

Reverend Ishmael Ako Ayeng, Superintendent Minister of the church urged Christians to inculcate in them the love and compassion of Christ so that they could give freely without any inhibition. He said Christians should be ready to feed a world that was starving for the word, as Christ physically and spiritually fed 5,000 people. Rev. Ayeng asked people in positions of authority to work for the betterment of others and not to over burden and exploit them. Although a Muslim, Aminatu Salifu, a 15 -year- old girl at the Osu Children's Home JHS, who was the proud recipient of the 500,000 copy of the bible, expressed joy for receiving the gift.