Dr. Richard Roberts, President of Oral Roberts Ministries, says the church and tradition can work together to develop the nation by joining hands and putting aside the barriers that separate them.

Speaking to Ghana News Agency on arrival at the Kotoka International Airport ahead of the Asanteman for Christ crusade to be held from Wednesday; May 14 to Friday; May 16, Dr. Roberts said collaboration is the key to move the nation forward.

The Asanteman for Christ Crusade, which is being organised in collaboration with the Manhyia Palace as part of the 15th anniversary celebrations of the reign of Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, is on the theme: "Come and see what the Lord has done."

It aims at giving the people of Asanteman the chance to reflect on God's goodness over the years and to win souls for Christ.

As part of the crusade, Oral Roberts Ministries will confer an honorary doctorate on the Otumfuo for his outstanding leadership and contributions to the development of Asanteman in particular and Ghana in general.

"I have known the Otumfuo for about 14 years now. He is a blessing to the ministry, he has been kind to me and I honour him," he said.

Reverend Paul Naughton, Dr. Jeff Ogle, Bishop Francis Sarpong and Dr. Steven Mwiluki who are part of the crusade team, will donate items to some orphanages in the Ashanti Region.

Dr. Lawrence Tetteh, International Evangelist and Convener of the crusade said the Oral Roberts Ministries had sent about 12 containers of food, clothing and gifts to be distributed to the kids.

However, difficulties in clearing the goods had resulted in some of it being diverted to Niger.

He spoke against the bureaucracy that had led to the diversion and called on parliament and other government agencies to consider exempting some organisations from tax payments when they are bringing in goods to help the less privileged in the society.

"Parliament should put measures in place to facilitate the clearing of humanitarian or aid items, so as not to frustrate efforts of philanthropists who want to send items to Ghana to help the less privileged,” he stressed.

The crusade will involve about 250 heads of churches. The planning committee is chaired by the Most Rev. Professor Daniel Yinkah Sarfo, Primate of the West African Province of the Anglican Church, Chairman of the Ashanti Regional Council of Churches and personal Bishop to the Otumfuo.