Accra, Jan 3, GNA - The Reverend Fitzerald Odonkor, Head Pastor of Harvest Chapel International Church, on Sunday called on Ghanaians to change from negative perceptions that affected progress for the attainment of rapid socio-economic development.

"Ghana has the natural and human resources to enable it to attain middle income status but this can only be achieved if as a people we move away from the old bad and ways of doing things." Rev Odonkor was preaching under the theme, "Getting To The Next Level," at a special Church service organised by the Church in Accra to herald the inauguration of President John Agyekum Kufuor for another four-year term.

The Planning Committee of the inauguration of the President, has requested Christians to pray on Sunday, January 2, 2005, for stable, peaceful and prosperous country as part of activities to mark the forthcoming event.

Rev Odonkor, who is also a Senior Manager at ECOBANK Ghana Limited, said the country needed active participants not detractors to move it into the next level of development.

He asked Ghanaians to "realise that our light has come," and that successful elections since the inception of democracy in 1992 were indications to the rest of the world that Ghana had great potentials. Rev Odonkor said " Rise up, change your attitudes and perspectives, remove the excess baggage, avoid antagonism and together move the country forward."

He called on individuals, organisations and political parties to avoid mistakes of last year that affected national development. Rev Odonkor said: "We should not waste time on policies, debates and programmes that had failed. Let us move forward."

The Head Pastor asked Christians to be truthful, righteous and let the light shine in their work places, families and communities. Rev Odonkor said "God is still in the business of using ordinary people to confound the wise, but the ordinary people must arise and shine."

He urged Christians to promote peace to enable all people with different religious, ethnic and political backgrounds live together. Rev Odonkor said "Christians should thank God for his blessings and cast their burden upon the Lord."

He said "The Lord's blessings should lighten our path and help us to grow spiritually and physically. When the Lord blesses us, he gives us energy and encouragement to move ahead on the way he has prepared for us".

The Head Pastor led the congregation to sing the National Anthem to affirm the Church's commitment to national ideals.