Kumasi (Ashanti), 22nd April

A book, "Cleanliness is next to Godliness," which seeks to make Christianity more relevant to the current national sanitary programme was launched at Kumasi on Wednesday. The 131-page book was written by the Reverend Professor Osei Safo-Kantanka, a crop scientist at the University of Science and Technology (UST) and a Minister of the Methodist Church of Ghana.

Rev Prof Safo-Kantanka has written three other books, -"Can a Christian be a Chief?", "Such men deserve recognition" and "Who is Jesus?".

The first copy of "Cleanliness is next to Godliness" was auctioned for 300,000 cedis.

Dr Ebenezer Appiah-Denkyira, Ashanti Regional Director of Health Services, launched the book, saying that "the path to Vision 2020 is in the direction of the message contained in the book". He said efforts should be made by various Churches, Youth and Women groups to patronise the book. He reminded executives of district assemblies, development and youth associations that their functions should include enforcement of environmental sanitation bye laws.