President John Mahama says the challenges that have confronted the initial stages of his administration have strengthened his faith in God.

Mr. Mahama confessed on Sunday May 12, 2013 at the Osu Presbyterian Church in Accra that the he had to seek guidance from his Pastor after his administration got confronted by so many challenges following his swearing in on January 7.

He said through it all, his faith in God has been strengthened.

The President who delivered the key note address at the presentation service for the one millionth Bible by the Bible Society of Ghana said: “We’ve had turbulence at the beginning of this whole process from when I was inaugurated and all that” but added that: “…God tests us in different ways, but He does it for the good and prepares you for something else”.

The President’s first 100 days have been fraught with a streak of strikes by agitating labour unions.

They include public sector Doctors who were up in arms with the Government in demand for the payment of their market premium arrears and conversion differences, as well as the correction of anomalies in their pension contributions.

The Government Hospital Pharmacists Association (GHOSPA) has also been on strike for over a month demanding the payment of its members’ interim market premium arrears.

Still with the medical fraternity, the Ghana Registered Nurses Association (GRNA) also threatened a strike.

On the education front, the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) as well as the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) and the Coalition of Concerned Teachers (CCT) went on strike at different times for different reasons but suspended their action after a couple of weeks.

Also, the Ashanti regional branch of the Polytechnic Teachers Association of Ghana (POTAG), threatened a strike by May 3, 2013 if their category 2 and 3 allowances were not paid as well as their conditions of service which, they said had expired for the past seven years, was not renegotiated.

Besides the industrial actions, the country has also been plagued by water and power rationing.

Utility supply has, however, improved a bit following several interventions by the Government.