Sunyani (B/A) Aug. 24, GNA - President John Agyekum Kufuor at the weekend entreated religious institutions to continue to pray unceasingly for a peaceful presidential and parliamentary elections in December. He asked churches to use the pulpit to educate its members on their civic responsibilities so as to help them exercise their franchise wisely in the polls.

President Kufuor gave the advice in a speech read for him at the opening of the 8th general assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana in Sunyani.

The seven-day general assembly is on the theme: "Put on the armour of God".

President Kufuor explained that this year's general election was very crucial since it served as the turning point of the country's democratic dispensation.

He pleaded with religious bodies to organise special worship programmes, more especially on the day of the election which coincidentally fell on a Sunday to help enure higher voter turnout.

Touching on the theme, President Kufuor noted with regret that most Christians in Ghana, including even pastors and their agents seemed to practice syncretism instead of "pure Christianity" and prefer to turn to occultists, shrines and other gods when they were confronted with the harsh realities of life.

"The situation has indeed cast a slur on the image of Christendom and gradually the confidence and trust which people used to have for the church is eroding", President Kufuor added.

This, he attributed to the lack of sound Biblical teachings in most churches and the shift of the primary focus of evangelization to prosperity messages.

President Kufuor explained that despite the various policies such as the Millennium Challenge Account, school feeding programme, golden age of business, educational reforms, among other which would help tremendously in making Ghana a middle income country by 2015, there was still much to be done and appealed to churches to help in that direction.

"The new educational reforms which were introduced recently, even though encountered some few challenges from the beginning of its implementation, have helped improved the quality of education in the country and that our expectation as a government is that all stakeholders will continue to help and advice us to make the programme a success", President Kufuor said.

Rt. Rev. Dr. Yaw Frimpong-Manso, Moderator announced that the General Assembly intended to begin the construction of the Kuntunase conference complex in phases, starting with the conference block, a dinning hall and Directors bungalow with proceeds from the Moderatorial Luncheons that were being held annually.

He suggested the importance to develop a Presbyterian Church of Ghana Mutual Fund by contributing GH¢ 20 per share so that interested church members, districts and presbyteries could invest in the church's projects, particularly the Salem hotel for their own benefits.

Rt. Rev. Frimpong-Manso disclosed that under the Television Ministry, 'Channel of Hope' telecast on GTV and TV3, the assembly had gained sponsorship from the Ghana International Airlines to the tune of GHC 7,200 every six months under a better agreement.

He said the actual coast of production and telecasting was on the average of GH¢ 3,500 each weekend and that the assembly was in arrears in the settlement of bills up to an amount of GH¢ 30,000 and appealed to members of the church to contribute to remedy the situation. On education, the Moderator said despite the current challenging educational environment, some key institutions of the Church continued to make great impact on the nation.

"Last year three of the Church's top institutions, Aburi Girls, Prempeh College and Presec Legon turned out a total of 1,318 students who fully qualified for entry into tertiary institutions with 10 students of Aburi Girls making aggregate six", Rt. Rev. Dr. Frimpong-Manso added.

He said the Presbyterian Church of Ghana provided access to 15,417 pupils and students and that scholarship initiated by Lois Wilson on behalf of Westminster Church, Albany, amounting to 8,400 dollars were given to needy but brilliant students as well as the physically challenged.

Rt. Rev. Frimpong-Manso said schools mostly in the deprived areas continue to operate under conditions which were very critical and that some of them were without permanent structures. He stressed; "while the church is prevailing on the government and our partners and is revamping the education foundation to step up support, presbyteries, districts and congregations are being challenged to re-focus and seriously fund their schools".