Koforidua, Aug. 28, GNA- The Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints (LDS) has been praised for contributing to development, particularly in the areas of poverty eradication, education, water and respecting indigenous cultures.

The Church, whose members are called the Mormons, had successfully integrated Ghanaian culture into its sacraments to enable its members find meaning to worship.

Nana Kwaku Ankumah, Eastern Regional Director of the Centre for National Culture, made the commendation at 175th anniversary celebration of the Church in Koforidua, at the Weekend.

He said reported incidents of rape, defilement and disrespect for authority indicated that the country was gradually losing it traditional values and commended the Church for its efforts at finding solutions to such problems.

Nana Ankumah observed that some organizations in the country had woefully failed to realized that "every effective development planning must have culture as its basis to take into account the people's way of life.

Mr Worlanyo Siabi, Deputy Regional Director of the Community Water and Sanitation Agency, commended the Church for providing portable water for in some communities in the Eastern, citing the provision of resources for the rehabilitation of 107 boreholes in the East and West Akim districts in the Region by the Church. Mrs Ewurabena Ahwoi, the Regional Director of Education, commended the Mormons for contributing to the development of education in the region.

The Presiding Member of the New Juaben Municipal Assembly, Odefour Boadi Asiedu noted that the people were beginning to appreciate the good deeds of the church.

Indigenous Ghanaian cultural display by various ensembles of the Koforidua District of the Church that comprised congregations from the Eastern and Volta Region were performed. The star attraction included the ever rated 'boborbor' dance by a group from the Volta Region, the 'agbadza' dance also by an Anlo Cultural group also from the region, and the spectacle put by an old lady throbbing the master drum at the helm of a Krobo 'dipo' dance ensemble, charmed the crowd.