Accra, Aug. 4, GNA - The Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG) would in September, this year, venture into real estate development to help augment government's effort at clearing the housing deficit in the country.

Consequently, the church is already collaborating with various real estate agencies to help it build houses and estates on its acquired lands scattered all over the country.

Mr Emmanuel Osei Akyeampong, Public Relations Officer of PCG, who was briefing Ghana News Agency on Wednesday in Accra on the upcoming General Assembly Meeting of the Church at the Takoradi Polytechnic from August 6-12, said that the housing project would be launched alongside other projects during the meeting.

He said that the Church intended to launch its Insurance Brokerage Firm as well as pure water production under the name Salem Water Limited, all of which would come into operation in September, after the launch at the meeting.

Mr Akyeampong explained that the various ventures were projects being embarked upon by the Church to help augment its sources of revenue to enable it undertake its missionary work more effectively and efficiently.

A national cloth to be used by all members of the Church to ensure uniform branding for the church would also be launched and members were advised that within the next two years they should do away with all group and congregational cloths currently being used.

Mr Akyeampong said more than 1,000 delegates involving 50 per cent laymen and 50 per cent ordained Ministers from both local and overseas congregation of the 182-year old Presbyterian Church, were expected to attend the event on the theme: 93Empowered by the Holy Spirit" (Acts 1:8), which would also be the main theme for the church in the coming year.

He explained that the Church believed in the empowerment of the entire congregation that would enable members build upon both their spiritual and physical infrastructure.

Activities lined-up for the meeting are the opening ceremony with Vice President John Dramani Mahama, as Special Guest of Honour, a thanksgiving service, a divine and memorial service for the departed brethren.

There would be the main business sessions, which would enable delegates, evaluate the Church's performance concerning missionary activities, adopt strategies for the coming year and elect the 16th Moderator, who would head the church for a six-year term.

The tenure of the current Moderator, Right Reverend Dr Yaw Frimpong-Manso ends in December.

Mr Akyeampong said delegates were expected to draw up strategies to improve upon the Church's performance particularly in church growth, especially on how to retain the youth who were shunning away from the strict discipline of the Presbyterian Church into other denominations.