Koforidua, Aug. 28, GNA - The Deputy Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Mohammed Baba-Jamal, on Thursday said Ghana was not a poor nation but rather problems of leadership and corruption had affected her development

He noted that Ghanaians were living in poverty in the midst of abundance due to the inaction of their leaders and the silence of the voices of justice at the appropriate time made it possible for evil to triumph in the country.

Mr Baba-Jamal made the observation at the formal opening of the Third Session of the Ninth Synod of Anglican Diocese of Koforidua at Koforidua. The four-day synod is under the theme "Put Your Thoughts into Action".

He expressed government's appreciation to the contributions of the Anglican Church and other religious organizations towards Ghana's socio-economic development. Mr Baba-Jamal gave the assurance that government would never harass its political opponents because it recognized the role of the minority in Ghana's democratic dispensation.

He advised the leadership of the minority political parties to offer constructive criticisms to the ruling government always with the national interest at heart.

The Anglican Bishop of Koforidua Diocese, Right Reverend Francis Benjamin Quarshie, urged politicians to stop the glorification of poverty in the country.

He observed that successive governments since independence had explained all economic interventions in the interest of poor farmers, teachers, workers and the ordinary man on the street but politicians were never described as poor in their endeavours. Rt. Rev. Quarshie said those developments had made Ghanaians unappreciative about what they could do to improve their living standards but always sought assistance from somewhere else. He called on politicians to refrain from thinking about themselves as Godfathers but rather to serve and create the necessary environment for the people to improve their living standards. Rt. Rev. Quarshie appealed to the clergy to help the people realise their potentials and live independent lives without relying on anyone. 28 Aug. 09