The Kumasi Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE), Mr. Osei Assibey-Antwi, has called for Ghanaians to be patriotic and show love for the nation by accepting to live up to their civic responsibilities.

This, he said, entailed paying their taxes, keeping the environment clean and supporting the government to implement its development vision.

He was speaking at a service held to launch the 180 years anniversary of the Adum Wesley Methodist Cathedral in Kumasi.

“Celebrating the faithfulness of God”, is the theme chosen for the event’s celebration and the activities lined-up include public lectures, clean-up and health screening.

There would also be the observation of a Lay Movement and children’s week and a prophetic convention.

Mr. Assibey-Antwi reminded the congregation about the need to ensure self-discipline, decency and good conduct to become a positive influence on others in their communities.

They should lead the way to build a society based on the values of hard work, honesty, transparency and tolerance.

The MCE said the expectation was that they would continue with the good works of the early missionaries in the areas of education and heath development.

He encouraged the church to forge stronger partnership with the state to push back the frontiers of poverty and other human indignities.

The Very Reverend Stephen K. Owusu, the Superintendent Minister, said the church would use the anniversary to discuss ways to strengthen its contribution to the improvement of the living conditions of the people.

Historically, the Methodist Church was confined to the coastal areas until the arrival of Thomas Birch Freeman in January 1838, whose zeal for the propagation of the gospel saw Methodism establish a foothold in the Asante Kingdom and beyond.

Regarded as the ‘Father of Ghana Methodism”, Freeman born to an African father and English mother, rendered the longest missionary service of 52 years, helping people to be conscious of their physical and spiritual needs.

The then, Asante King, Otumfuo Kwaku Duah, (1838-1867), played significant role to assist the church to thrive by giving out large swathe of land to it.