Kumasi, March 21, GNA - Church Services were held in Kumasi to mark "Good Friday," a worldwide occasion held annually to commemorate the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.

Christians believe the event and Jesus' resurrection on the following Sunday as a landmark in the religious calendar. This is because his death and resurrection brought redemption and the atonement for the sins of mankind who had otherwise been banished from the presence of God as a result of sin.

In a sermon to mark the occasion, Right Reverend Nuh Ben Abubekr, Bishop of Kumasi Diocese of the Methodist Church urged Ghanaians to demonstrate peace during the impending elections.

"We must be prepared and exercise our political rights and accept the full outcome of the elections also in a peaceful manner". He said Ghanaians are one people with one love and common destiny and that there was the need to reconcile with each other. Right Reverend Abubekr, who was preaching under the theme: "The Need for Reconciliation among Ghanaians," said Jesus Christ died to reconcile man but sin separated man from God.

He stressed the need for Ghanaians to reflect on how to contribute meaningfully towards the socio-economic advancement of the nation. The Methodist Bishop advised the people to eschew negative tendencies like backbiting, rumour-mongering, bribery and corruption, and nepotism, saying they impede development efforts. Right Reverend Abubekr called on Ghanaians to change their attitudes and be committed and dedicated to the worship of God at all times.

At the Peyer Memorial Presbyterian Church at Bantama, Reverend Otuo Acheampong, Chairperson of the Asante Presbytery, called on Ghanaians to rededicate their life to God.

Rev. Otuo Acheampong urged Christians to see the suffering of Jesus Christ to save them from Satan's ways and acknowledged them from the freedom of bondage they were in before his death. He called on Christians to use the occasion to reflect on their life and sacrifice their lives for others as Jesus Christ did. Rev John Appiah Opoku, Catholic Priest at Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Catholic Chaplaincy of the Kwame Nkrumah of Science and Technology, appealed to Christians to change their attitudes to reflect the sufferings of Christ on the cross.

He reminded Christians that Jesus Christ died for mankind and therefore asked them to live lives worthy of emulation. Rev. Opoku stressed the need for people to have compassion and support the needy in society at all times. Reverend Emmanuel Yaw Asamoah, an Associate Pastor of the Grace Baptist Church, Amakom, entreated Christians to avail themselves for positive changes in their lives.

He reminded them that since Christ Jesus humbled himself to come in the form of human in order to save man from his sins and their consequences, it was very important for mankind to take advantage of the opportunity. Rev. Yaw Asamoah said the celebration should be a mixed feeling whereby believers must be sorry for their sins as well as to turn away from them and be happy also because Christ Jesus had carried their burdens.