Tamale, Dec. 26, GNA - The Most Reverend Gregory Kpiebaya, Catholic Archbishop of Tamale on Wednesday said Ghanaians had intolerably allowed bribery and corruption to creep into the social fabric, which had continued to retard the nation's development.

He said: "Our nation will cease to progress if we allow some negative tendencies such as bribery and corruption, lateness to work and apathy towards national property to permanently live in us to enter the New Year".

Archbishop Kpiebaya was delivering his New Year message to a large congregation at a vigil to usher in Christmas at the Our Lady of the Annunciation Catholic Cathedral in Tamale.

He said corruption had now become part and parcel of Ghanaians such that the Government's zero tolerance for corruption had become a mere slogan, adding, "unless we Christians start to fight corruption no politician can do it".

He said there were about two million Catholics in Ghana and that if they all woke up to say "no to bribery and corruption", there would be a positive change, which would help the nation to emerge from its current economic doldrums.

Most Rev. Kpiebaya observed that it was difficult for students to gain admission to schools, check and receive their results without "doing something," saying, "the situation is no longer a governmental issue but a social one that affect all Ghanaians".

He told the congregation to become "New Ghanaians and be genuine as the new clothing you are wearing to worship God to herald in the New Year". On indiscipline, Archbishop Kpiebaya said those who were fighting the canker must be disciplined so that others would emulate them. He commended Vice President Alhaji Aliu Mahama for setting the tone for discipline in the society but urged that he should begin with the politicians and other Government officials.

He said: "Christmas is a feast of life and Ghanaians are always time conscious to drinking bars and merry-making activities but they are always late to public functions, adding, "I hope many of us here will change our attitudes as we enter 2004, for our children to emulate us". Special prayers were said for the nation, the President and his Cabinet, as well as lasting peace in Dagbon.