The church has been urged to lead the national campaign to rid the communities of filth and other unhealthy practices fueling the destruction of the environment.

Mr. De-graft Fokuo, the District Chief Executive for Asante-Akim South, said the pulpit should be used to sensitize and encourage people to get right with the environment.

He said more was needed to be done to aid Ghanaians to appreciate the need to keep their surroundings clean to prevent diseases.

He said church, given its powerful influence must have an important role to play to bring change and make things better.

Mr. Fokuo was speaking at the area’s launch of the 80th anniversary celebration of the Apostolic Church – Ghana, at Juaso under the theme “Celebrating Christ, our consistent companion”.

He congratulated the church on the occasion of its anniversary and said it should continue to focus on helping people to smooth over their differences and to be at peace with one another.

It should not concentrate only on the spiritual growth of its members but their physical wellbeing as well.

Evangelist Godwin Anyonam, Area Head of the Church, said God had been good to the church having twice survived breakaways - in 1937 and 1953.

He reminded the congregation to treasure unity as they celebrated 80 years of spreading the gospel.