Koforidua Aug. 22, GNA - Mr Kwadwo Afram Asiedu, Eastern Regional Minister, on Friday called on churches to include electoral education in their programmes as a way of ensuring the sustenance of the country's democracy.

Mr Afram Asiedu made the call at the opening of the eight Biennial Diocesan Conference of Sunday school and children service teachers of the Koforidua Diocese of Methodist Church. He said when proper electoral education was given to the people it would help reduce violence and acrimony that sometimes characterized elections.

He said the government accepted and lauded the complementary role being played by the churches in character formation of the youth. Mr Afram Asiedu said it was against that background that the government did not hesitate to reintroduce Religion and Moral Education in the New Educational Reform when the Christians Council of Ghana and other Christian organizations raised their concerns.

He expressed worry about the high rate of social vices such as armed robbery, mobile phone snatching, disrespect for elderly and other criminal acts in society and attributed them to lack of parental control and high rate of school drop out.

He advised Ghanaians to guard against acts that could inflame passions in the upcoming election.

Mr Samuel Sakyi, Diocesan Superintendent of Sunday school and children service teachers, enumerated some challenges facing them in the discharge of their duties.

These include lack of support from church agents, insufficient financial support from ministers, caretakers and stewards and lack of hymnal to improve the ministry.

Mr Sakyi said in spite of those challenges the ministry had chalked a lot of success by growing of membership of both teachers and scholars.