Baika-Buem (V/R), Oct 12, GNA - Mr Joseph Z. Amenowode, Volta Region= al Minister on Sunday, exhorted the Church and its leadership to criticise wrongdoing at all times and demand accountability as necessary recipes fo= r shaping society for development.

He said some Churches and their leadership have involved themselves in partisan politics, thereby compromising their calling and stance. Mr Amenowode, also the Member of Parliament for Hohoe South urged Churches to champion the cause of the downtrodden and underprivileged in society, since its one of the cardinal principles of Christendom. He gave the advice in an address read for him at the Centenary Anniversary of the Baika Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Ghana, at Old Baika, in the Jasikan district, under the theme, "Uniting for Development= ". Mr Amenowode said the Church as an institution was an embodiment of truth and if the "Church compromised that ideal" then there would be chao= s in the society, community and country at large.

He noted that "religious and political leadership exploited the congregation and electorates and wondered who would be at the defence of the poor and entreated the Church to be firm and fair to keep politicians on track. The MP also called for complementary roles between church-state for accelerated development. The Regional Minster suggested that founding fathers of institutions= be named after monuments and streets, stating that, a 'country worth dying f= or must recognize hard work". Mr Amenowode challenged the youth to emulate the sacrifices and fortitude of the forebears and contribute to nation building. Right Reverend Francis K. Amenu, Moderator of the General Assembly o= f the E. P. Church, Ghana urged the people to shirk the "pull-him-down syndrome", be assertive and invest in themselves, community and country. He entreated Christians to forge peaceful co-existence with all, def= end the truth and "let the detractors persecute but with perseverance, we sha= ll succeed".

Rt Rev Amenu called on the faithful to seek Godly worth to "rebuild the walls of Jericho" as congregants, political parties, community and countr= y. Nana Kwaku Dua III, Baikahene noted that with the advent of the Christian faith and accompanying education, Baika could boast of professionals, including doctors, engineers, educationists and pastors.

He paid glowing tribute to the Agbea clan and especially the late Joseph Agorti, who donated parcels of land to the E. P. Church in 1908. Nana Dua entreated stakeholders to assist the community to rehabilit= ate dilapidated school blocks, build teachers' quarters and place the communi= ty school under the school feeding programme.

As part of the anniversary, a fund raising service was also held and= an amount of GHc 3,700 was realised for the construction of a new chapel.