Religion of Wednesday, 10 January 2007

Source: GNA

Don't use Golden Jubilee for marks - Parties urged

Apam (C/R), Jan 10, GNA - The Right Reverend Albert Kwesi Hackman, Bishop in-charge of the Apam branch of the Church of Lord has cautioned political parties against using the Golden Jubilee celebration of Ghana's independence to score political marks. Bishop Hackman said the celebration would lose its national character if any of the political parties attempted to use it for cheap popularity.

Speaking to the Ghana News Agency at Apam, the Bishop called on Ghanaians to use the celebration to reappraise their performance over years.

"We will be able to adopt strategies to overcome our challenges," he said.

He appealed to Ghanaians to bury their political, ethnic and religious difference and to forge ahead in unity to celebrate the anniversary.

"Let how we celebrated the victories of our national team, the Black Stars in the last World Cup competition guide us to celebrate the Golden Jubilee", Bishop Hackman stated.

He noted that the greatest joy Ghanaians wished to get from the Jubilee was to see ex-President Rawlings and President J.A. Kufuor at one table chatting and dining.

The Bishop appealed to the two leaders to bury their differences and appealed to leaders of religious groups to lead the crusade to reconcile the two.

The Bishop appealed to Ghanaians to exhibit the usual "Ghanaian hospitality" to visitors who would come for the anniversary, saying, "We must try as much as possible to protect the interest and safety of our visitors.