African leaders will co-operate with the churches-Kufuor

Accra, Oct. 31, GNA- President John Agyekum Kufuor on Friday, said African leaders would cooperate with the churches and other religious organisations to improve on the image of the African and add value to humanity on the continent.

"African leaders are concerned and would co-operate with the churches and other religious organizations to improve on the image of the African and add value to humanity on the Continent. The leaders are prepared to listen, therefore if the churches have any advice they should not hesitate to inform them", he said.

President Kufuor said this when Reverend Dr Mvume Danadala, General Secretary of the All African Conference of Churches (AACC) on a familiarization tour of Ghana paid a courtesy call on him at the Castle, Osu.

He commended the role of the churches in Ghana especially in education and health for the past 200 years since the missions set foot on the then Gold Coast.

President Kufuor said Ghana was heavily indebted to the churches that had not relented in their efforts towards its socio-economic development.

He said they produced human resources for nation building and bound the people together to appreciate that they were one and the same people but not to fight among themselves.

President Kufuor said Ghana had been blessed with all forms of religious organizations living together in harmony in-spite of the differences in ethnic groups, "we are praying that such co-operation continued".

He, however, appealed to religious leaders to help politicians as they pursue their different political ambitions and reiterated government's commitment to co-operate with the church in the implementation of its policies and programmes, adding " this government is religious friendly".

Rev. Danadala said the AACC established about 40 years ago in Kampala, Uganda, was for churches with a common faith to unite Christians on the Continent.

He said it was also to ensure that the churches collaborate with their political leaders to ensure that Africa was built on a firm spiritual belief to realize the best Continent created by God. Rev. Danadala said it was time the desired objectives of the African churches to work closely with their political leaders materialize for the benefit of the people.

He said the church's contribution towards development on the Continent would depend on how they co-operate with the political leaders to achieve the same goal and purpose.

Rev. Danadala who is also the Head of the Methodist Church in South Africa said churches on the Continent had appreciated the efforts and leadership qualities of President Kufuor not only in Ghana, but within the Sub-Region and Africa to maintain peace and stability.

"We support the work you are doing and pray that God will bless your initiatives and ensure that your dreams for Africa would be fruitful", he said.

The AACC with membership from 39 countries would hold its eighth general meeting in Yaounde, Cameroun in November, the first in the new millennium. The meeting is held every five years.