President John Dramani Mahama, on Wednesday, appealed to churches to serve as pathfinders and crusaders of peace and unity, to pave the way for Ghana’s development.
He, therefore, entreated the church to eschew petty jealousies and squabbles that could lead to disunity among Ghanaians everywhere, adding: “We must all remember that united we stand, and divided we fall.”
President Mahama made the appeal when he addressed the 40th General Council Meeting of the Church of Pentecost at Gomoa Fetteh in the Central Region, on the theme:”Worshipping in Spirit and in Truth.”
The President said the country had been polarised on the lines of party politics, religious and ethnic differences, and it was only the religious leaders who could take neutral positions to influence Ghanaians positively.
He commended the Church of Pentecost and other churches for their influential roles in organising intercessory prayers that had kept the country united and peaceful and making Ghana a model of peace in the African continent.
“The peace and unity we have enjoyed over the years is not by our might, and it is also not by accident, but by your intercessory prayers you have been offering in the country,” the President stressed.
President Mahama commended the churches for their instrumentality in providing socio-economic infrastructure such as schools at all levels, health and water facilities, and religious glorification that had put the fear of God in Ghanaians in their daily activities.
He gave the assurance that the government is working around the clock to ameliorate the energy challenges the country is experiencing, and urged Ghanaians to be more tolerant, as the problem was being fixed.
Apostle Dr. Opoku Onyinah, Chairman of the Church of Pentecost, appealed to Ghanaians to remain resolute to the unity the country had over the years enjoyed, by accepting the verdict that would come out of the 2012 election petition in court.
He said Ghanaians were one people with a common destiny, and should, therefore, not allow themselves to be divided by political differences.
Onyinah said the church had established 22 micro-credit facilities in the country to provide capital to the people, to move them away from poverty to become productive citizens.
The church also used the occasion to inaugurate GH¢34 million social projects at Gomoa Fetteh.
Some of the facilities include a 5,000-capacity auditorium, accommodation facilities for 1,450 people, health and water projects.
The Church would, at the end of the council meeting, hold elections to elect a Chairman, General Secretary, and five members of the Executive Council.
THE CHRONICLE
