Accra, Feb. 22, GNA - Christian Churches in Ghana will organize a week-long prayer and fasting week from March 7 that will be climaxed with= a National Thanksgiving Service on March 14.

The Service, being organized in consultation with President John Eva= ns Atta Mills, has also been declared National Development Week. The Right Reverend Dr Yaw Frimpong-Manso, Chairman of the Christian Council of Ghana, who read a communiqu=E9 signed by the Council, the Ghan= a Pentecostal Council, Catholic Bishops' Conference, National Association o= f Charismatic and Christian Churches and the Council for Independent Church= es, said the Service would be held at the Independence Square in Accra and at=

designated places at all regional and district capitals.

The communiqu=E9, read at a media briefing to inform Ghanaians of the=

event, urged Churches to keep their doors open for morning, mid-day and evening prayer times throughout the period.

The National Prayer and Fasting Week, which will be observed annuall= y, would identify critical issues for prayers and would also be used as a period for reflection, repentance, reconciliation, revival and restoratio= n in Ghana. Prayer topics to be observed throughout the week include confession o= f sins, prayers for the President, Vice President, Ministers of state and Deputy Ministers, Municipal and District Chief Executives.

There would also be prayers for national security, families, legislature, judiciary, district and metropolitan assemblies, the media, agricultural sector, oil and gas, energy sector, youth, educational institutions and many others to ask the favour of God on the nation. The Rev. Dr Frimpong-Manso said during the week there should be increased focus on national development at all levels, and called for strengthened unity among various Christian churches and the nation as a whole.

Archbishop Charles Palmer-Buckle, Metropolitan Archbishop of Accra,=

who chaired the function, said Ghana was blessed for the fact that Christians, Moslems and traditionalists were able to pray together during= a national event. Calling the phenomenon "unity in diversity," he said "a nation that prays together stays together" and urged Ghanaians to be patriotic since service to the nation was service to God. Archbishop Palmer-Buckle said, "Let us look at Ghana in the image an= d likeness of God," and added that the National Prayer and Thanksgiving eve= nt had come to stay.