President of the Trinity Theological Seminary, Reverend Dr Joseph Obiri Yeboah Mante, has advised politicians not to live in the comfort of their offices and neglect the suffering poor.

He also called on politicians to initiate comprehensive measures to bridge the gap between the poor and the rich in society.

Rev. Dr Mante was preaching the sermon to mark the end of his tenure of office as Akuapem Presbytery Chairman, at Akropong on Sunday.

He expressed worry that some communities in the country were so poverty-stricken that children walked bear-footed and without food to school, and cited the Akuapem South District.

Rev. Dr Mante thanked the Minister for Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, Dr Akyem Apea-Kubi, Eastern Regional Minister, the chiefs, heads of institutions and the district pastors for supporting him during his five-year term of office.

Rev. Dr Mante, who was elected the Presbytery Chairman in 2005, had ensured the completion of about 45 projects including the putting up of school buildings, and an increase in the number of the congregation to more than 20,000.

He was elected the Chairman of the Eastern Regional Peace Advisory Council.

Mr Ofosu Ampofo commended Rev. Dr Mante for contributing to the development of the Akwapem area and for helping to settle the 17-year old Akuapem chieftaincy dispute.

He said Rev Dr Mante’s achievements indicated that the country had good pastors who were prepared to partner government to help in the development of humanity.