Accra, March 23, GNA - The search for political power during Election 2008 should not cost the lives of Ghanaians, the Most Reverend Robert Aboagye-Mensah, Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church of Ghana, said in an Easter sermon on Sunday. Politicians should not mess up the lives of Ghanaians because they wanted power as it happened in Kenya. "If you lose, accept defeat and if you are in control ensure that you are transparent and honest. Use power to build the nation," he said. Preaching on the theme: "New Life in Christ" at the Ghana Police Church in Accra, Most Rev Aboagye-Mensah said ethnic, religious and political differences should complement each other and work toward peace as the new life in Christ should lead to peaceful co-existence. He said Jesus greeted the disciples, who had gathered in a house in Jerusalem: "Peace be with you" and so Christians should not only strive to live in peace with others but should be engaged in peace building.

Most Rev Aboagye-Mensah said the new life in Christ came not only through fact but also experience and such an encounter brought about transformation, adding that it was for this reason that Jesus Christ spent 40 days after the resurrection to link fact to experience and thus making the disciples totally committed to the spreading of the Gospel. He, therefore, urged Christians to strive to experience the Living Christ so that they would be empowered since the new life in Christ centred on deeds. The Gospel Band of the Church provided a medley of songs in praise of Jehovah and the Risen Christ. Christians in Ghana are celebrating Easter, the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead about 2,000 years ago with church services and conventions.