Vice President Kwesi Amissah-Arthur has urged religious organizations to encourage their members to enhance their morality so that they can be entrusted with positions of trust for good national governance.

Gratitude in prosperity, patience in adversity, and the courage to uphold the truth even when inconvenient to oneself, are some of the qualities that every Muslim and every citizen is encouraged to cultivate, the Vice President said this at Pomadze, near Winneba in the Central Region.

Opening the 82nd annual convention of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission in Ghana, the Vice President underscored collaborative relationship between religious organizations and the state for building a prosperous nation.

The three-day convention, which is bringing together adherents of the Ahmadi Islamic faith from across all the 10 administrative regions of Ghana, is on the theme: Moral Uprightness, the Foundation for Economic and Social Growth.

It is being held at the Missions Farm, Bagh-e-Ahmad (Garden of Ahmad).

With a declaration of the peace, mercy and blessings of Allah, the Vice President commended the Mission for incorporating discussions of morality and economic growth in what was usually a gathering to deepen ones spiritual outlook.

Morality is a behavior or a code of conduct that distinguishes what is deemed right as distinct from wrong for an individual or a group or society.

In the great religions of the world, the key to integrity and good conduct is a strong relation with God, who sees all at all times and everywhere. It is our belief (as Moslem and Christians) that God knows the secrets of the heart and the intentions behind every action of an individual, the Vice President said.

Vice President Amissah-Arthur reminded the congregation that, moral behavior seeks to have people conduct themselves in a particular and predictable way all the time, even when there are no observers of actions.

He expressed the belief that God is continuously aware of man's actions and thoughts and will confront each one of us with our record on the Judgment Day.

This encourages man to be moral in his conduct and sincere in his intentions and in his dealings with others.

Vice President Amissah-Arthur noted that, man, through the process of moral training, is transformed into a social being who is expected in his dealings with others to be honest, truthful, to play by the rules, the rules of good and predictable behavior.

He underscored the need for leaders who are morally upright, hardworking, not corrupt, and not be intimidated by anybody.

When we have these attributes in our leaders, we can be certain that negative tendencies will not impede society's progress, Vice President Amissah-Arthur emphasized.

He expressed the nations appreciation to the leadership of the Mission and that of other religious leaders who think of the nation first before themselves.

"The nation is grateful for your efforts. It is our prayer that Allah gives you good health and long life to continue serving our nation and humanity", the Vice President said, and added, "and please remember to intercede with Allah for the stability and progress of this great nation".

Maulvi Wahab Adam, Head of the Mission in Ghana, recalled the words of President John Mahama that corruption is murder, and observed that it has eaten so deep into the garment of righteousness.

The Missionary spoke against the ills of corruption, and stressed the need for moral uprightness, pointing out that morality and the law should be seen as the foundation on which any society should be built.

Mr. Justice Saeed Kweku Gyan, an Appeal Court Judge, spoke against the acceptance and giving of bribe, and pointed out that what each person does affects the progress and development of the nation.

He called on Ghanaians to render themselves to the service of the nation.