Church should partner government for national growth - Veep

Tema, July 29, GNA- Vice President John Dramani Mahama, on Wednesday urged the church to support government in its efforts to create the moral environment for national growth and development. He said the church and public institutions should apply the tenets of good governance in their operations by seeking the direction of God. Opening the Fifth West Africa "More than conquerors" leadership conference of the Global Leadership Training (GLT) institute in Tema, he expressed regret that sin was drawing mankind back from the blessing of the Lord.

"Sin keeps drawing us back from the blessed Lord. promise for us," he said.

The five-day conference on the theme: "Recognizing and Resisting Corruption in Leadership," attracted 800 participants. Mr Mahama, who was the special guest of honour, stressed the need for Christians to lead morally upright lives. He said the "nation can rid itself of the canker of corruption and other anti-social behaviour", if the citizenry adopted Christ-like characteristics.

Mr Mahama commended the church for the positive and meaningful role it is playing in assisting the spiritual development of Ghanaians and partnering government in promoting the material well-being of the people.

The Vice President said it was gratifying to note that the church in Ghana had been prominent in education, healthcare and agriculture. He cautioned the leadership of the church to be politically neutral in order to retain the trust of the people and exert the leadership required to help move the country in the right direction. He urged Ghanaians to love one another and be each other's keeper, "because we are one people and are bound by one common destiny". Pastor Gregg Johnson, Founder and President of GLT, praised Ghana for its pioneering role in the political history of Africa. He said Ghana was a nation with leadership in its blood, because it was the first Sub-Saharan Nation to have its son to become Secretary-General of the United Nations, adding that Mr Kofi Annan endeared himself to his work that he received the 2001 Nobel Peace Prize for a better organised and more peaceful world.

He reminded African leaders that the only way to resist corruption was for them to lead upright lives. Reverend Steve Wengam, Director of Administration of the Assemblies of God Church, and West Africa Co-ordinator of GLT, urged religious leaders in Africa to strive to ensure that religion impacted positively on the lives of the people. The authorities of the GLT presented Vice President Mahama with the Global Excellency Award for Leadership.