Ho, Jan. 1, GNA - Right Reverend Francis Lodonu, Bishop of the Ho Diocese of the Catholic Church has called on President John Agyekum Kufuor to focus on uniting the country after the recent elections which was characterised by boisterous political campaigning.

He said, although the election was largely peaceful, "there is no doubt that it has polarised the country".

Bishop Lodunu said this in a New Year Message delivered through the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Ho on Friday.

He said, "as the father of the nation," President Kufuor should take the initiative to unite the entire nation.

Bishop Lodonu congratulated Political Parties who lost the election for conceding defeat and going on to congratulate the elected President. He said their mature attitude had given additional credence to the poll results and respectability to Ghana's democratic process. Bishop Lodonu congratulated President Kufuor for winning the elections and prayed God to give him the confidence and courage to tackle the problems of the country.

The Bishop prayed for a solution to land and chieftaincy disputes in the Volta Region to facilitate its development.

He said the notion that the Church had failed the country in imbuing its people good morale values was unfortunate.

Bishop Lodonu said the Church was working hard against the forces of modernity, which had allowed all forms of depraved literature and films to circulate freely in the country.

He said one way in which Churches could impact positively on morals in society was to be allowed to owe and manage schools.

Addressing a large congregation of worshipers to usher in the New Year on Friday night Reverend Emmanuel Otieku, Pastor in-charge of the Ho-Bankoe Elorm Parish of the E.P. Church also exhorted the country's politicians to work towards uniting the country in the New Year.

He said the uneasy atmosphere in which the December 7 elections were held which, though passed off peacefully nevertheless pointed to the fact that all must work towards uniting the country. 01 Jan.05