Ejisu (Ash), June 22, GNA - Mr Osei Assibey-Antwi, Deputy Ashanti Regional Minister, has stressed the need for pastors and religious bodies to sensitize their members and the general public on their civic responsibilities to help transform the country. This, he said, would also help them become more patriotic to enable them play positive contributions towards the socio-economic and political development of the nation.

Mr Assibey-Antwi was speaking at the inauguration of Spiritan University College at Ejisu on Friday. He said in spite of proliferation of churches in the country, there had been ascendancy in crime waves, drug trafficking, indiscipline and other immoral behaviour among the youth. He appealed to churches to work harder and intensify their evangelism to help minimize such problems. Mr Assibey-Antwi said the church and the state are partners in development and expressed the hope that their roles would complement government efforts to ensure development of the country.

Professor W.O. Ellis, Pro-Vice Chancellor of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), appealed to the university to strive and become the best university in the country. He said since the university is affiliated to the KNUST, everything possible would be done by KNUST to mentor the university to become a fully fledged institution. Rev. Father George Boakye-Danquah, the Rector of the Spiritan University College, said the university which was formerly Spiritan Institute of Philosophy, was established five years ago to train spiritual leaders or priests, academically, morally and psychologically to meet the challenges in society. He extended gratitude and appreciation to the Ejisu Traditional Council for providing the university with 75 hectares of land of which about 25 hectares have so far been utilized. He said the university would need more facilities including additional classrooms, dormitory blocks, administration block and a bus and appealed to the government and others to come to the aid of the university.

Nana Agyeodin Adu Gyamfi Ampem, Omanhene of the Acherensua Traditional Area in the Brong-Ahafo Region who represented Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asantehene, cut a sod for work to start on the construction of a library for the university. Mr J.H. Mensah, Chairman of the National Development Planning Commission who chaired the function, commended the Catholic Church for promoting health, education, agriculture and others in the country.