Appreciate peaceful state of the country - Bishop urges
Ghanaians
Cape Coast, Jan.1, GNA- The Rt. Rev. Daniel Allotey,
Anglican Bishop of the Cape Coast diocese on Sunday called
on Ghanaians to appreciate the peace and tranquility the
nation enjoyed last year and begin the new year with
thanksgiving to God.
He observed that for the nation to continue to enjoy
considerable degree of peace it was imperative for religious
leaders, traditional rulers, political leaders, family and
clan heads to work positively and constantly towards peace
among all people in Ghana and beyond.
Rev. Allotey made the call in a watchnight service at the
Christ Church Cathedral at Cape Coast to herald the new
year.
He said entering a jubilee year, it was important for
Ghanaians to eschew social vices such as laziness ,
vendetta, dealing in cocaine and other hard drugs, ritual
murders, child slavery and trafficking, teenage
prostitution, rape and irresponsible parenthood.
He particularly expressed concern about the behaviour of
"false prophets" who use powers other than that of the holy
spirit in the church of God to deceive the weak and
vulnerable worshipper.
He also expressed concern about the unbridled way radio
phone-in programmes were used to attack leaders of the
society and made a passionate appeal to everybody in the
church in Ghana , Africa and in the world to spend more time
on things that would unite and build rather than indulging
in issues things that would divide and destroy the nation.
Bishop Allotey also added his voice to the calls on former
President Jerry John Rawlings and President John Agyekum
Kufuor to make every effort to smoke the peace pipe,
especially at the time that the beloved country would be
celebrating her golden jubilee.
He also appealed to the president of Nigeria and his vice to
try as much as possible to resolve the constitutional crisis
between then in a way that the welfare of the people of
Nigeria and the interest of Nigeria would be served to
enhance the present peace that is prevailing in the West
Africa Sub region.
"We would humbly remind our dear brother and sisters in
Nigeria that Ghana walked in a similar way in 1996 and came
out of those constitutional woods with a considerable amount
of peace much to the relief of many Ghanaians and other
stakeholders"
At the Amanful St Joseph Catholic Church Reverend Fr. Hilary
Adu, urged Christians to turn a new leaf and begin the new
year as " new people" and engage in activities that would
enhance the development of the country.
He also called on Ghanaians to use the new year and nation's
jubilee celebration to co-exist peacefully , tolerate and
respect the opinions and rights of others.
GNA
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