Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asantehene, has cut the sod for work to begin on a six-million Ghana cedi Banking and Office Complex at K.O. in Kumasi, calling on Christians to be financially innovative.

He said the time has come for the church to wean itself from the traditional sources of generating funds, such as offertory and tithes, and be receptive to new ideas.

This, he said, was the panacea to building the potentials of local churches to be self-sufficient instead of always depending on the parent churches to fund their activities.

The complex, one of the flagship programmes of the K. O. Redevelopment Project, is being funded by the Methodist Church Ghana (MCG) to enhance its financial status.

The project, which covers land mass of about 10.2 acres, entails the construction of a four-star hotel, high-rise car park and school complex.

Otumfuo Osei Tutu said Methodism had been beneficial to the society in diverse ways since its advent in the country over a century ago.

The church had built numerous educational and health facilities, trained leaders and also campaigned for a disciplined society for the wellbeing of the people.

The Most Reverend Professor Emmanuel Asante, Presiding Bishop of the MCG, said the church had always responded to the needs of its surrounding communities and that the project was informed by its desire to make good use of the church’s property.

He urged the respective societies, circuits and other related bodies to embrace innovative ideas to foster growth.