President John Kufuor has commended the Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG) for playing a constructive and crucial role in the country's development.

He said the Church had also played an honourable role in the social history of the country through the provision of schools, hospitals, training colleges and well known for its reputation in discipline.

President Kufuor made the commendation when accompanied by his wife Theresah and some Ministers of State, attended a Thanksgiving Service at the Osu Ebenezer Presbyterian Church to climax the year-long centenary celebration of their Chapel in Accra.

The Foundation stone of the chapel was laid on Saturday 1 March 1902 and dedicated on Sunday 19 October 1902 by the Reverend Michael Seeger, a Senior Basel Missionary of the Gold Coast.

President Kufuor said it was heartening that the Church had moved a step higher to establish a University and pledged government's support to bring the idea into fruition.

"The Presbyterian Church has always been pioneering and respectable. It had also been a landmark in Osu", he added. Right Reverend Dr. Sam Prempeh, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church in sermon said the Church was prepared to forge ahead in partnership with all sectors of the citizenry for stability and social equilibrium.

He said the Church had always been in partnership with the chiefs and the people for development. The Moderator said the establishment of the University by the church was to complement government's efforts in the improvement in tertiary education in the country.

He said the challenge facing the congregation was to have a sober but critical reflection on their performance over the years and determine whether they had remained faithful in their faith with God.

Right Reverend Prempeh said the congregation should now resolve to redouble their efforts to contribute effectively to s0olve the socio-economic problems facing the country.

"We should endeavour to guard against tendencies that were parochial and inward-looking and eschew complacency in our activities", he added.