Kumasi, Aug 6, GNA - Mr Kwame Osei-Prempeh, Deputy Minister of Justice and Attorney General, has appealed to Christians not to be apathetic towards matters of national interest.

He said Christian should be law-abiding and at all times stay away from practices and beliefs that could hamper Ghana's socio-economic progress and the growth of Christendom.

Mr Osei-Prempeh was speaking at a send-off service organized for Apostle Emmanuel Osei Kwabena Donkor, the new General Secretary of the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) International by the Bantama branch of the church in Kumasi on Sunday.

Apostle Donkor, 43, was the Bantama Area Pastor of the church. The Deputy Minister said the church had long been worthy partners of the state in development, citing the numerous hospitals, schools and other social amenities provided by churches. He said whilst these facilities were necessary to uplift the standard of living of the people, "it behoves on Christians to equally exhibit truthfulness, honesty and discipline in their endeavours so as not to erode the gains made".

Christians, he said, should honour their tax obligations dutifully just as they pay their tithes regularly. "In the same way they should also maintain good sanitary conditions in their environment just as they keep the auditoria of their churches tidy at all times", Mr Osei-Prempeh said. Apostle Stephen Amoani, Chairman of the CAC International, praised Apostle Donkor for his dedicated service that saw a rapid transformation in the numerical strength and infrastructure development of the Bantama church. Apostle Donkor said he would be committed to the church's mission statement in the discharge of his duties. 06 Aug 07