Church

Accra, April 2, GNA - The Deeper Christian Life Ministry on Friday said abstinence and marital fidelity were the imperative checks against the spread of HIV/AIDS pandemic and not the use of condoms.

The Church said rather than popularising condom usage as a check to the spread of the disease, people must adopt chaste life, "know that sexual promiscuity with or without condom is sinful and against God's command".

Pastor Archibold Ako-Nnubeng, Administrative Secretary of the Church, said these at a press briefing to announce the annual Retreat Session of the Ministry. He said since Ghana, like other third world countries was under siege by the dreadful HIV/AIDS pandemic, everybody must ensure that he or she stayed clear practices that rendered them vulnerable to the disease.

The Retreat, which takes off from April 8 to April 12 has the theme: "Get Connected to Power for All-Round Breakthrough" and the national gathering would be held at Prampram in the Greater-Accra Region It is to be held in 39 centres throughout the country, where over 60,000 youth and adults are expected to attend to participate in various talks, Bible studies and life transmission of messages that are full of the principles of victory and stability from the Church's Headquarters in Nigeria.

During the retreat, prayers would be said for Ghana to ensure peaceful election and "orderly development of our fledgling democracy". "We see the Retreat as an auspicious period to bear Ghana up strongly before the Throne of Grace and this is a clarion call to all concerned to join the throng of intercessors for our motherland', Pastor Ako-Nnubeng said.

The Church urged all politicians to tone down their language during the campaign period and to tolerate other peoples' views in order to have peaceful and successful elections. "The political climate extant now is a cause for concern. Utterances by some politicians engender tension, rancour and disunity and we cannot bury our heads in our church activities and say everything is alright." The Church, therefore, called on Christians to live peacefully with their neighbours and eschew evil while politicians should do all they could to maintain the peace in the country.

Bawku Court remands man for attempted murder

Bawku, April 2, GNA- A 52-year-old man who attempted to shoot his elder brother with a pistol was on Thursday remanded in prison custody by a Bawku Circuit Court.

Adama Rahamani had pulled the trigger of his locally manufactured pistol three times in an unsuccessful attempt to shoot his elder brother Osman Rahamani in his house. The plea of the accused was not taken, and he is to reappear on April 15, for attempted murder.

Prosecuting, Police Chief Inspector Mohammed Osman told the court presided over by Mr. Nathaniel K.E. Osam that although the complainant and accused are brothers residing at Posom section of Bawku town, they have not been in talking terms for over 15 years and have vowed not to visit one another. He said on March 24, 2004 at about 1100 hours when Osman was not at home, Adama accompanied by an elder went to Osman's compound to plead with their mother who stays with Osman, to reconcile the two brothers. Osman came later and confronted Adama about his presence in his house.

The Prosecutor explained that the confrontation led to a heated argument between the two, and in the process Adama pulled out a loaded pistol and fired three times unsuccessfully at his brother and sensing danger ran away. The prosecution said Osman reported the matter to the police and Adama was arrested him.