The Central Regional Minister, Mr Isaac Edumadze, on Thursday challenged churches in the region to go beyond the borders of the country in search of direct foreign investment into the country.

This, he said, would enable them play a key role in the country's economic development, particularly in the rural setting. The call was contained in a speech read on his behalf by the Deputy Central Regional Co-ordinating Director, Mr Ben Assumaning, at the opening of the 42nd Synod of the Winneba Diocese of the Methodist Church, Ghana, at Agona Swedru. The theme for this year's Synod is: "the church and investment".

Mr. Edumadze said the church's involvement in direct investment would lessen the pressure they sometimes put on their members for financial contributions through diverse ways for administrative and other purposes.

He commended the Winneba Diocese of the Methodist Church for its investment drive and further suggested that it should also strive to facilitate joint partnership among its members with entrepreneurial skills, and also between its foreign branches so as to tap the necessary technical and financial expertise for accelerated development.

Mr. Edumadze assured the Church of the Regional Co-ordinating Council's support to ensure the success of its investment programmes. He used the occasion to impress upon churches in the Awutu-Effutu-Senya, Agona, and Gomoa districts to embrace the President's Special initiative on Cassava Starch production.

In his annual report, the Bishop in-charge of Winneba Diocese, the Right Reverend Jeremiah A. Morrison, announced the Church's investments in various revenue generating ventures, including transport, treasury bills, insurance policies, as well as plans to go into agriculture.

According to Bishop Morrison, the Church also plans to train its members to acquire various vocations to make them productive and more useful in their communities and the Church. He cautioned Ghanaians against laziness, saying that without hard work and commitment to national goals and aspirations, "we cannot move the nation forward."