Regional News of Monday, 11 August 2014

Source: GNA

Help protect national image - Minister urges Ghanaians

Mr Akwasi Opong-Fosu, Minister of Environment Science Technology and Innovation, has noted that it is the responsibility of politicians, chiefs, opinion leaders and civil society groups to protect Ghana’s image.

He said Ghana was founded on values which must be respected by the citizens and that the disrespect of the values is the continuous retrogression of development.

He said the country has lost its values and image through political vindictiveness which is making the nation to lose its developmental agenda.

Mr Opong-Fosu was speaking at the climax of the 50th Anniversary Celebration of EDEN Revival Church International at its Headquarters at Kokomlemle in Accra on Sunday.

The celebration was on the theme: “Release from Bondage and Mediocrity to Freedom and Excellence.”

Mr Opong-Fosu noted that majority of Ghanaians serve their individual interests in whatever they do and do not care about the glory that will come to Ghana for the benefit of all.

He donated 10 RLG laptops to the Church, meant for Primary and Junior High School of the mission.

Nana Oye Lithur, Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection said members of Church should reflects on the founder’s life and words who set out to reach Africa with Jesus.

She urged members of the Church to standup on their feet to spread the gospel by preaching God’s words, adding: “The words of God’s has never changed.”

Nana Oye Lithur said there are 17,000 children on the street as porters (Kayaye) which always lead them to teenage pregnancy and that government is doing everything possible to control the situation.

She pleaded with authorities of the Church to create a place for the transformation of children, women and the vulnerable in the society.

Reverend Nana Kwasi Agyekum-Dwamena, General Overseer of the Church said the celebration was based on four goals, which include thanksgiving to the Almighty for 50 years of worship service, creating more awareness about the Church and its activities among its branches and the wider Christian Community in Ghana.

It also aims at calling upon its members to commit themselves in support of the activities of the celebration and to encourage them to work harder for the full realisation of the Church’s vision of crossing the world with Jesus.

He said the strategic thrust of the Church for the next decade includes the passionate proclamation of Jesus by word and deed, vigorously plant new churches and revitalise existing ones, strategically invest in the next generation and skillfully resource the church spiritual and circularly through education institutions.

Reverend Fred Deegbe, Head Pastor of the Calvary Baptist Church in a sermon said Christians must learn how to know God in all aspects of their lives and preach for the expansion of the religion.

Dasebere Awuah Kotoko, Chief of Begoro and Chairman of the celebration said churches have contributed immensely to the development of Ghana as part of their corporate social responsibilities and appealed to them to continue to do more in order to improve on the lives of the citizenry.