President John Dramani Mahama on Sunday called for closer partnership between the state and the church to speed up socio-economic development.

He said such partnerships would also uplift the spiritual needs of Ghanaians.

President Mahama made the call when he joined Catholics in the Accra Archdiocese to celebrate the 120th anniversary in the Archdiocese on the theme: "Honouring the Past, celebrating the present, and building the future."

The Archdiocese covers the Greater Accra, Koforidua Diocese and Donkorkrom Apostolic Vicariate.

The celebration also marked Christ the King feast, which climaxes the Catholic annual Calendar.

The anniversary celebration which was also attended by former President John Agyekum Kufuor, Ministers of State, Members of Parliament and Members of the Diplomatic Corps is a prelude to the 125th anniversary that would be celebrated in 2018 to mark the planting of the Catholic faith in the then Accra Province of the Gold Coast .

The event would also close the year- long celebration, which began with the communal celebration of the first Vespers of the Advent at the beginning of the year.

President Mahama who condemned the recent stealing of street lights along the Walker Bush N1 Highway and other roads told Ghanaians that they are stakeholders in the socio- economic development.

He said the stolen street lights, cost government GH¢ 400,000.

"I want to remind... Ghanaians, that the achievement of the better Ghana Agenda is the responsibility of every Ghanaian and not only those in government."

President Mahama commended the Catholic Church for its immense contribution in the establishment of health facilities, educational institutions and human rights advocacy.

He said: " Am told in the Archdiocese alone, the Catholic Church has 54 kindergarten schools, 56 primary schools, 50 junior high schools, nine senior high schools and one university college, which is very meaningful to our growth and development."

Most Reverend Charles Gabriel Palmer-Buckle, Archbishop of the Accra diocese called for selflessness among the Catholic faithful in replication of Jesus Christ, who had so much power to save others but refused to save himself.

He said although it is difficult for Christians to find themselves in the shoes of Christ a little commitment from the faithful could be significant in the development in every part of the country.

Archbishop Palmer- Buckle called for love and unity amongst Ghanaians, the ingredients, which he said are vital for the socio- economic and political advancement of the country.

He appealed to Christians to avoid anything that could push the country into unacceptable standards.