The Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG) has entreated government to restructure the economy through well thought-out policies and implement pragmatic plans and programmes for a turnaround of the economy.

According to the church, although successive governments had made some satisfactory progress towards turning Ghana into a middle-income country, Ghanaians were still living under difficult conditions.

“This calls for a fundamental restructuring of the economy through well thought-out policies,” the church stated in a communiqué issued after its 13th General Assembly meeting held at Abetifi, Kwahu recently.

Rt. Rev. Prof. Emmanuel Martey, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, touched on the issue of corruption and bribery, raising concerns after Ghana scored 45 per cent on the Transparency International Global Corruption Perception Index for 2012.

He indicated that the rise in the incidence of bribery and corruption, theft, and embezzlement of state and private funds in the country should be seen as number one national enemy, as it was having adverse impacts on the country’s ability to attract foreign direct investment.

“Unfortunately corruption is so pervasive in the country and has so many forms, with seemingly no solution in sight,” he said.

The Presbyterian Moderator further said the thought that the passing of the Public Procurement Law and other laws and instruments would help ‘improve accountability, value for money, transparency and efficiency in the use of public resources’, had turned out to be a mirage.

“We therefore encourage government to adequately resource key state institutions such as the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), Audit Service and the Attorney General’s Department to promote greater efficiency in their service and help stamp out the menace,” he said.

He further called for the laws of the country to be applied squarely to the ‘givers and takers of bribes as well as those found guilty of embezzlement and theft of state resources.

“The general assembly again calls on the Government to expedite action on passing the Freedom of Information Law.”