Ho, Aug 6, GNA - The Evangelical Presbyterian (EP) Church of Ghana is to broaden its revenue base and expand its role in the provision of education in the coming years, The Reverend Godwin Kwaku Osiakwa, Clerk of the Church's General Assembly has said.

Speaking in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) ahead of the maiden General Assembly of the EP Church scheduled for Ho between August 19 and August 23, this year, The Reverend Osiakwa said emphasis was being shifted from collections to business enterprises, as the main source of generating funds for running the activities of the Church. The Rev Osiakwa said going according to the dictates of the last Synod that "congregations be encouraged to set up viable ventures," headquarters had beefed up the Church's hospitality business, renovating the Kekeli Hotel and attaching a restaurant to it, in addition to opening a pharmacy.

He said the Church was considering building a state-of-the- art auditorium in Ho to cater for big indoor gatherings and revamping its fisheries projects.

The Rev Osiakwa said feasibility studies were either ongoing or completed to start some fuel distribution outlets, adding that he was aware many of the church's presbyteries had started businesses in the areas of animal husbandry, farms, and road transport to support their activities.

He said internally, the administrative machinery of the Church was being revitalized with new equipment, including computers to meet the challenges ahead. "The Church has expanded from a mainly Volta Region based church into a national one, and is building schools in other regions which would come under the management of the E.P Educational Unit soon," he added.

The EP Church, which was founded 162 years ago by the North German Missionary Society (Bremen Mission), is a major agent of development in the Volta Region where it started at Peki before spreading to other regions in the country.

It changed its decision-making structures last year from the yearly Synods as the highest decision-making body, to the General Assembly, the first of which is to be held in August this year. 06 Aug 09