Kumasi, April 16, GNA - Reverend Otuo Acheampong, Chairperson of the Asante Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church, has said the Christian community and other religious groups in the country have every cause to jubilate over how far the Lord had been gracious to them for the past 50 years of the nation's independence.

He said the involvement of the Christian Community in the celebration of the anniversary through symposia, lectures, prayer meetings, communal labour, inter-denominational services and other activities was evidence of the importance the church attached to the jubilee as a Biblical year of liberty.

Rev Acheampong was addressing the opening session of the 85th Asante Presbytery conference of the Church at the Ebenezer Congregation at Asawasi in the Kumasi Metropolis on Saturday.

The five-day conference is under the theme "Go and make Disciples of All Nations".

He expressed the Church's appreciation to the regional and district planning Committees that helped to make the celebration a memorable.

"Even though our country is enjoying 50 years of political freedom, the impact of Christianity on the moral lifestyles of the people is not felt much".

He said the Church, described as the salt and light of the World, should seize the jubilee year to intensify its fight against social vices such as armed robbery, bribery and corruption, drug trafficking, laziness, and indiscipline.

"We live in an era where various forms of vices are openly committed by some people in high and low levels of the society that cannot be frowned on by the Church."

"The Church should continue to play its prophetic and advocacy role to make life comfortable for people, in this regard, I implore all Church leaders to lead lives of integrity", he said.

Rev Acheampong stressed the need for all Ghanaians to thank God for the democratic dispensation the nation was enjoying and said there was the need for both Christians and non-Christians to create political tolerance and acceptability in a multi-party democracy.

"The Church, in our effort to help sustain our fragile democracy, should do well to educate our members to be mindful of utterances in public places. Some phone calls at FM Radio stations these days on political issues are very provocative and infuriating and should be condemned", he said.

Alhaji Muntaka Mohammed Mubarak, the Member of Parliament for Asawasi, called for total commitment and sacrifices from all Ghanaians towards the development of the country.

He said every individual could be a good disciple if people exhibited honesty, morality, patriotism and hard work at workplaces and love for neighbours in spite of Church, tribal and political affiliations. The MP said it was time Ghanaians especially believers lead good and moral and upright lives and pray for one and another.