President John Dramani Mahama on Saturday said the only way Christians could help in the socio-economic development of the country was to stand by the virtues of the Bible

This, he said, should include respect for the elderly and others, national patriotism, avoiding corruption, drug trafficking and other malpractices that were tarnishing the reputation of Ghanaian societies.

President Mahama said this when he joined the Saviour Church of Ghana congregation during their annual convention at their National Headquarters at Osiem in the Eastern Region.

Apart from religious activities, the Saviour Church had also been engaged in the socio-economic development of the country by establishing schools and health facilities in some parts of the country.

The church, established in Ghana 91-years-ago, had also engaged in cocoa, cashew, orange and other plantations to support the communities in which they operate.

President Mahama admonished other religions that use their faith to commit atrocities, murders and other criminal activities in the country and beyond.

He said whilst government was doing everything possible to reverse the economic and power challenges the country was experiencing, there was the need for every Ghanaian to contribute his or her quota towards its development.

The President said the high demand for electricity had contributed towards the challenges and gave the assurance that government would do everything under its jurisdiction to step up power generation to avoid the repetition of these power challenges in the future.

President Mahama urged Ghanaians to be thankful for God's blessings over the years by praying ceaselessly for more blessings in the coming years.

He called on all Ghanaians to support the Black Stars, who would be playing in the final of the African Cup against the Ivory Coast, in Equatorial Guinea to come home with the cup.

Opanin Abraham Edusei, General Superintendent of the Saviour Church of Ghana, said the church believes in respect and hierarchy and encourages people in different occupations to engage in farming as it has become a commercial activity.

He said his outfit had established 35 basic schools throughout their catchment areas with one Senior High School in Osiem.

Opanin Edusei appealed to government to absorb the Senior High school into the public system by providing some facilities that would help catapult the school to a higher level.

He said apart from the Hospital at Osiem, the Church had also constructed other ones at Ashanti Bekwai and Bonwire in the Ashanti Region, and called for a bigger theatre and equipment to cater for the health needs of the people in the area.

The General Superintendent appealed to Christians and Ghanaians in General, to adhere to the tenets of their religious beliefs for the prosperity and growth of the country.

He said as Christians, there was the need to put into practice what they had learnt from the Bible by denouncing social vices such as stealing, corruption, drug and human trafficking, lies and deceit, which were detrimental to the growth and development of the country.