Christians urged to heed advice to honour taxes

Awutu-Bawjiase (C/R), Aug. 2, GNA - Leaders of Councils of Churches have been urged to set up permanent task forces to sensitize Christians on the need to honour their tax obligations to promote the economy. Mr Solomon Kwashie Abbam-Quaye, District Chief Executive for Awutu-Effutu-Senya, made the suggestion when he inaugurated the Local Council of Churches at Awutu-Bawjiase at the weekend.

He expressed concern about Christian businessmen, traders and workers, who evade taxes and yet classify themselves as faithful followers of Christ.

Mr Abbam-Quaye charged Christians to heed the advice of Christ, which placed a responsibility on believers to honour their tax obligations to the state without fail.

He said in response to a question on the responsibility of his followers to the state, Jesus stated that "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's and to God the things that are God's," adding that, this behooved on Christians to discharge their obligations to the state in the best way that they could.

Mr Abbam-Quaye pointed that, "a good Christian life is incompatible with the indulgence of negative activities such as tax evasion, cheating, profiteering, smuggling, multiple sale of land, overloading of vehicles and other forms of economic, social and environmental sabotage.

Mr Abbam-Quaye said for Christians to maintain and firmly uphold the good name of Jesus Christ, they must exhibit the virtues of humility, modesty, tolerance and sacrifice, which were vital tools for the effective promotion of divine and national assignment in their doings.

They must also be prepared to expose the wrong doings of their follow Christians to force them to change from their bad ways to lead decent, social and spiritually accepted lives. He charged church leaders to champion the crusade against indiscipline and to educate their members on the National Health Insurance Scheme.

Mrs Mercy Essandoh, one of the Assembly Members for Bawjiase, who stood in for the MP for Awutu/Senya, Mr Oppey Abbey, called on the people to cultivate the spirit of communalism and to promote the education of the girl-child.

Apostle John K. Teye, Agona Swedru Area Head of the Apostolic Church of Ghana, who officiated and Nai Kwao Otuo V, Chief of Awutu-Mankessim called for true love, unity, understanding, and co-operation among the executives of the Council to achieve its objectives. Apostle Teye and Nai Otuo advised the leaders of the Council to ensure transparency in their work and to always look up to the Creator for solutions in times of difficulties.

The Council has the Reverend E. K. Hayford of the Apostolic Church, Ghana, as the Chairman and the Reverend K. Botwe of the Methodist Church as the Vice chairman.

Other officers are the Reverend S. R. M. Essel of the Church of Pentecost Secretary, Rev. S. Y. Temeng of the Voice of God Evangelical Church, Assistant Secretary, Rev. J. B. Awuah, of the Trinity Church, Rev K. Adjei of Praise Chapel, Elder Isaac Abbey of the Musama Christo Church, Organizer, Deacon S. M. Amoah of the Trinity Baptist Church, Financial Secretary and Madam Margret Tettey of Saint Andrews Anglican Church, Treasurer.