The Rev. Paul Kwabena Dekyem, Chairperson for the Akyem Abuakwa Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana has called on all religious bodies in Ghana to be ambassadors of peace for the country.

He said considering what was happening across the country in the ongoing biometric registration exercise, it was important for all churches and other religious groupings to preach and pray for peace between now and December.

Rev Dekyem said this at the opening of the 40th Akyem Abuakwa Presbytery Conference at Asuom on Saturday under the theme, “The holy Spirit and the Believer”.

The six-day conference was attended by Reverend Ministers, catechists and the laity from the entire 21 districts within the presbytery.

Rev. Dekyem, said the main objective of the conference was to take stock of the activities of the previous year and plan for the ensuing year.

He stressed the need for peaceful coexistence, and challenged Christians and Muslims to help maintain peace before, during and after this year's elections.

Rev. Dekyem admonished politicians to commit themselves to peaceful elections by refraining from acts that would undermine the peace, the country was currently enjoying.

He called on traditional authorities to join the crusade for peaceful elections by explaining the principles and importance of democracy to their subjects.

Rev Dekyem also expressed concern about environmental degradation as a result of illegal mining activities in the area, and the involvement of school children in illegal mining activities at the expense of their education. He called for strict enforcement of mining regulations to safeguard the environment.

Mr Twumasi Ankrah, an educationist, in a speech commended the Presbyterian Church of Ghana for establishing the Asuom Senior High School which had produced many personalities in the area.

He made an appeal to the Church to establish a college of education in the area and pledged to support the project with resource mobilization.

The Chief of Asuom, Osabarima Ofosuhene Apenteng II, in a speech urged Christians to help bring about positive change in the development of Ghana.

He tasked Ghanaians to be involved in the electoral processes in order to ensure free, fair and transparent elections in December.**