Obuasi (Ashanti Region) 21 June '99

The Reverend Dr Kofi Effah-Ababio, Asante Presbytery Chairman of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, said on Sunday that bribery and corruption could be eliminated when the real culprits - the giver and the receiver - turn over a new leaf.

Government officials, the clergy, chiefs and opinion leaders are all calling for an end to this social canker which is destroying socio-economic development of the country, he said.

Rev Effah-Ababio therefore urged those involved in the act to stop forthwith.

He was delivering the sermon at a thanksgiving service to climax activities for a three-day 14th annual conference of the Asante Presbytery Men's Fellowship of the church at the Presbyterian Church of Ascension at Obuasi in the Adansi West district.

The theme for the conference was "Turn to God, rejoice in hope".

The Presbytery Chairman pointed out that Ghana's determination to free itself from bribery and corruption would be successful only if Ghanaians turned to God with faith and hope.

Rev Effah-Ababio inducted a new 14-member executive committee for the fellowship headed by Mr Asante- Agyarko, into office.