Kumasi, May 17, GNA - The Joint Anglican Diocesan Council of Ghana has commended the government for its decision to hand over schools to religious bodies that established them.

In a communiqu? in Kumasi at the end of its delegates' meeting, the Council said that it has accepted the challenge and that the Anglican Church would continue to teach moral education and instil discipline in its institutions.

It recognised the harsh socio-economic conditions in the country and expressed its appreciation for the efforts of the government to stabilise the cedi. The Council called on the government to intensify its pragmatic and dynamic approach to solve the problem. On HIV/AIDS, the Council stressed that abstinence from premarital sex; faithfulness of couples and continuous education should be the watchwords.

"The youth should be encouraged to avoid sexual promiscuity and accept the reality of AIDS as a killer disease". The meeting, which discussed the welfare of the church and state, commended Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asantehene, for his initiative in setting up the Otumfuo Education Endowment Fund for needy but brilliant students and called on other traditional authorities to follow the example.