Adukrom, May 11, GNA - Right Reverend Dr Yaw Frimpong-Manso, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, says the new political leadership must focus on creating a better Ghana for all other than dwelling on past mistakes. "Many mistakes have been committed in the past and there are clear evidences that successive governments did not use the available state resources to the benefit of all but that should not be the point of references," he said.

The Moderator was saying the sermon to mark the 150th anniversary of the Adukrom Presbyterian Church of Ghana and the dedication of a new chapel. He said the wrongs of the past, which included mismanagement and bad governance, must be rectified in the interest of the vulnerable and not for exposing the past for ridicule. The Moderator said Ghana abounds in many natural resources and if successive governments had managed the national affairs well, donor support for developments would not be paramount. He said the church "must rise up to its call by ensuring that leaders are accountable for their stewardship and to call their attention to the core mandate of managing resources for the betterment of all and not for a selected few."

Dr Frimpong-Manso said it was a dent on the image of Christianity and moral breakdown for leaders who profess to be Christians to use power and authority entrusted into their care for their own parochial and selfish interests whiles those who brought them to power wallow in poverty. He expressed worry over the use of radio stations as platforms to attack people's reputation and to highlight mistakes.

The Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, recalled the proverbial Presbyterian discipline years back and said the state would complement the church in every effort to instil discipline in Ghanaians, especially the youth. He said many social vices such as "Sakawa" - fraudulent means of getting quick money instead of hard work - and examination malpractices are issues that call efforts by churches to address since "development cannot thrive in the midst of those ills." Mr Ofosu-Ampofo appealed to the church not to be satisfied with the achievements of building a modern edifice for the church but to strive hard to protect the image of Christianity to reflect on the lifestyles of the people.