Kumasi, Feb. 11, GNA - The Right Reverend Dr. Yaw Frimpong-Manso, the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, on Sunday called on Ghanaians to turn their hearts to God if they wanted the nation to continue to prosper. He said the nation was founded on God and had prospered due to God's blessing and if "we turn our hearts away from him, the blessing will be removed".

The Rt. Rev. Dr. Frimpong-Manso was delivering a sermon at the elevation of the Patasi sub-district of the church to a full District Pastoral status at Mount Olive Congregation at Patasi in Kumasi. He said, "As we prepare to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of our independence as a nation, let's lay aside selfishness, prejudice, jealousy and all negative attitudes that tend to divide us." "Let's treat others with all due respect and dignity, trusting that the Lord who has brought us this far will continue to work out His good purposes for the nation", he said.

The Moderator said a careful observation of the cause of some of the causes of conflicts and disasters on the continent could be attributed to indiscipline, carelessness, selfishness, greediness and unhealthy ambition of people trying to rule the world with human knowledge, power and understanding.

"The world is moving at a terrific pace and many of us have been so carried along that we are living under stress in a stressful world because we do not trust in God and his word."

"Lack of inner peace in individuals has affected families, communities, our nation, the sub-region, the continent and the entire globe", he said.

Mr Emmanuel Asamoah Owusu-Ansah, the Ashanti Regional Minister, said the elevation had been possible through hard work and determination of the district.

He praised the leadership of the Congregation for being united and working hard to reach higher level and stressed the need for the members to continue to work to support the leadership and the development of the church. "If we can't leave a legacy as we celebrate the 50th anniversary then it means we have done a great disservice to our children" he said.