Kumasi, Aug 18, GNA - Right Reverend Yaw Frimpong-Manso, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, has stressed the need for Ghanaians to unite and love one another as a means of promoting national development.

He noted that the current trend of ethnocentrism, divisions and rancour would not help especially when the country was preparing for the December 7 election. Right Rev Frimpong-Manso was giving the sermon at the commissioning of 21 ministerial probationers of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana at Kwadaso in Kumasi on Sunday. It was under the theme "God's Love for All People."

The 21 ministerial probationers passed out after successfully completing a two-year ministerial course at the Ramseyer Training Centre at Abetifi in the Eastern Region. He expressed concern about negative practices like bribery and corruption, nepotism, rumour mongering and back-biting which had militated against the socio-economic development and urged Ghanaians to halt such practices. Right Rev Frimpong-Manso emphasised the need for the Clergy to respond with courage to the urgent challenges posed by the current economic, social and political environment. He advised them to educate their congregation about such challenges to enable them to understand such policies and programmes and respond positively to them.

Right Rev Frimpong-Manso advised them to sow the seeds of evangelism and love among the people adding "If faith is flourished it needs to strike deep roots of love in the hearts of the people.'' He urged them to avoid corrupt practices and propagate the message of God to their people at all times. Reverend Esther Lamley Segbefia, a representative of the ministerial probationers expressed concern about the high level of moral decadence and other social vices and pledged their commitment to help transform the society. She said the ministers would educate their congregations and the people to pray unceasingly to God to ensure a peaceful election this year.