Don't Politicise Crime - Minister

Accra, June 12, GNA - Nii Amarh Ashitey, the Greater Accra Regional Minister, has condemned the politicisation of crime in the Ghanaian society. Nii Ashitey said no country could succeed in fighting crime and gross disrespect if the menace is politicised.

He expressed regretted that 93When you apply the rules, people say come 2012, we would not vote for you but as a government, we will insist that the right things are done by enforcing the law".

The Minister, who was speaking at the induction service for members of the new Executive Council of the Christ Apostolic Church International (CACI), who were elected at the 54th Synod of the Executive Council meeting in Ho.

Apostle Dr Stephen K. Amoani, Chairman of the CACI, and eight members of the Church's Executive Council, were inducted into office by Apostle Michael Nimo, a past Chairman of the Church.

The other members were Apostle Dr Emmanuel Kwabena Osei Donkor, General Secretary, Apostle Jeroham John Obour, Field Director, Apostle Isaac Kwabena Mensah-Abrampah, Evangelism Director and Apostle W.K. Amaning as the Missionary Director.

The rest were Reverend James Awuniselya, Prophetic Director, Rev. Joseph Sakyi, Christian Education Director, Mrs Mercy Asamoah, Director of Finance and Mr Stephen Oduro-Kwarteng, General Deacon.

Nii Ashitey said he was not happy with the lifestyle of some of the youth and some men of God and cited pastors who had been jailed for various offences such as fraud and defilement.

He challenged the Church to invest in the youth and design programmes, policies and plans to attract them in areas such as sports, Information and Communication Technology and evangelism.

Nii Ashitey said 93Winning the youth to Christ should, therefore, be the major concern of the Council because this would guarantee the future growth and development of the Church as well as provide responsible leadership for both the Church and State.

"It is hoped that our commitment to early child training would curb the anti-social behaviours such as robbery, occultism, and homosexuality".

Apostle John Annan Adotey, the Immediate Past President, Apostolic Church Ghana, said Church leaders should not use their stewardship to amass wealth but to support the weak and vulnerable among them.

Addressing the congregation on the topic: 93Stewardship", Apostle Adotey, who was also the Past President of the Ghana Pentecostal Council, noted that some leaders were in the Church for their personal gains and challenged them to use their stewardship to serve people in humility.

According to him, a steward is someone, who manages the affairs of an estate on behalf on his or her employer, adding that 93as stewards you will be required to give an account of your stewardship."

Apostle Adotey said as stewards, Church leaders were required to build a Church into a stature of purity righteousness.

He was not happy with some Church leaders, who teach their congregation about wealth and prosperity, denying them the messages that prohibited sin. Apostle Adotey condemned the some church leaders, who had taken titles and parading as 93gods" and compelling the public to pay for services they render to them.

According to him, titles that 93these pastors confer on themselves portray them as gods. This should not be so."

He encouraged Church leaders to be faithful and serve the Church with integrity as they would be accountable to God.

Apostle Dr Amoani pledged that the Church would support government to flush out fake pastors whose aim was to cheat.

He said the Church shared the concern and worry of the government about the issue of fake pastors reportedly engaged in all kinds of criminal acts. Apostle Dr Amoani said 93As a Church, we share the worry and concern of the Government about the issue of fake pastors, reportedly engaged in all kinds of despicable, immoral and criminal acts to the disdain and discomfort of all well-meaning Ghanaians."

He said the Church would not relent in its efforts to speak against ills and vices in the society as well as lead the crusade against the upsurge of homosexuality, politics of insults, intimidation and violence against the vulnerable.

Apostle Dr Amoani called for the strengthening of the existing 93state and church relationship to ensure that the church contributed effectively to the development of the nation."