Bishop asks Ghanaians to sacrifice

Takoradi, August 14, GNA-The Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church, Most Reverend Dr. Robert Aboagye-Mensah said Ghanaians must make sacrifices to promote good governance and make the country peaceful. He said without good governance, the democratisation of the nation would be affected while all other sectors could retard progress. Rev. Aboagye-Mensah said these at a divine thanksgiving service to climax the four-day Methodist Festival of History and Archives (Methofest) at Takoradi on the theme: "Responding to the call." Six hundred delegates within Ghana attended the four-day festival while 140 delegates from Cote D'ivoire also participated.

He called on Ghanaians not to give up or despair but should use their talents for the development of the nation.

Rev. Aboagye-Mensah said the country and church needed people who would offer sacrificial service for the total development of society adding, "we need to lay down our lives for others to survive." The Presiding Bishop therefore, urged Christians to make evangelisation and discipleship part of their daily lives.

"Evangelisation and discipleship should not only be a programme but must become part of every Christian, irrespective of the denomination," he stressed.

Rev. Aboagye-Mensah said the church must do away with gender distinction and discrimination among themselves and strive to bridge the generation gap and unite all people.

Papa Owusu Ankomah, Minister of Interior said though churches were increasing on a daily basis, evil was also increasing rapidly and called on all churches to work hard and eliminate this evil.

He said through such evil deeds, the nation was loosing its customary values of honesty, truth and selfless service.

Papa Ankomah charged Christians to make a difference in whatever work they are tasked to do.

"Let the transformatory message of Christ change, motivate and energise you to excel in whatever you do," he added.

He appealed to the Ivorians to make their forthcoming elections peaceful, free and fair and avoid any incidents. Papa Ankomah said that government would support the church in its development agenda.

Mr. Isaac Brown, Leader of the Ivorian delegation, expressed his appreciation to the Methodist Church Ghana for inviting them to Methofest 2005 and pledged to participate in future activities of the Church.

The Sekondi Diocese won the Methofest Quiz and the Exhibition on artifacts. Aug. 14 05