Cape Coast, Jan. 1, GNA - Orthodox and charismatic churches in the Cape Coast Municipality were filled to capacity, as services were held to usher in the New Year.

By 1900 hours many people, most probably regular churchgoers were heading for their churches to claim their seats before those, who attended church services only on such occasions, took them over. While the churches were being filled, many youths, most of them teenaged boys, had gathered at the 'chapel square' where about four churches are located, and were lighting up and throwing about firecrackers in abundant glee, although the law forbids it. His Eminence, Cardinal Peter Appiah Turkson, Archbishop of Cape Coast, in his sermon at the St. Francis De Salle Cathedral, stressed that such vigils, were always held to "renew the opportunity" for Christians and Ghanaians in general, to take stock and plan ahead for the New Year.

He said Christians should not be afraid for God was always with them and that with faith, they should begin the New Year as "good Christians and do what is expected of you since you were created in God's image".

The Cardinal exhorted all Christians to emulate Mary the mother of Jesus, whom he described as obedient and humble, in order for God to bestow His blessings on the nation.

Preaching the sermon at the Wesley Methodist Church, after prayers had been said to usher in the New Year, The Most Reverend Isaac Quansah, Bishop of the Cape Coast Diocese of the Church, urged Ghanaians to work diligently and eschew all forms of laziness to help move the country forward, in the New Year.

He particularly, urged members of the church, to work hard to lift the town's image to befit its status as a tourism destination in the country, by helping to enhance environmental sanitation. Most Rev. Quansah further charged the Church to endeavour to undertake more development projects, to help generate employment for the youth to occupy them and also help move the economy of the nation forward.

The Very Reverend Isaac Sam, the Superintendent Minister of the Church, in a New Year message, asked Ghanaians to make "a turn about" politically, economically, socially and religiously, by shedding negative habits that stagnated the nation's growth.

" All Ghanaians, especially Christians, should be able to forget the past and forgive each other in a spirit of reconciliation to help move the country forward in development", he stressed.

The General-Overseer of the Lighthouse Chapel International, Pastor Brian Adu urged all Christians in the country to endeavour to become steeper in their worship of God, for the maintenance of the peaceful atmosphere in the country.

He expressed regret that some Christians had become "double-minded" and had one foot in the house of God and another outside and said the year 2004, should be a year in which all Ghanaians should be well established in all that they did.

Prayers were said for the nation, the President, Ministers of State and for the prosperity of the Central Region in particular. While churches were in session, some residents had either gathered in front of their homes or in the various nightclubs to usher in the New Year.