Former Moderator of Presby Church launches pension scheme for clergy

Accra, Aug. 1, GNA - Dr Lawrence Tetteh, a Ghanaian international Evangelist at the weekend slammed what he described as 93the lack of inter= est by successive governments to better the lot of the country's senior citizens".

He stressed: 93It is mind boggling to see people who have toiled to b= e the building blocks of Ghana begging for bread when they retire from active service. It is a national indictment and we must surely do something about it before it is too late. "Our fathers and mothers should not be neglected for their sacrifice= s for the nation."

Dr Tetteh , who is also the Chaplain of the Christian Council of the U= K and Ireland made the observation to the Ghana News Agency in Accra when he launched a 287-page book: 93Those Who Have Ears," which was authored by= the Very Reverend Dr Yaw Frimpong-Manso, past Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana.

The book, which is the compilation of the addresses and sermons of Ver= y Rev Frimpong-Manso spans topics like: 93Going On To Maturity," 93The Universalism of the Lord," New Life in Christ," and 93Joy: The Fruit o= f Faith," which is in aid of a private charitable fund, 93The Frimpong-Man= so's Pension Foundation", to support ministers of the gospel who have retired from active service and their spouses.

Dr Tetteh said the foundation of Ghana would remain stronger for futur= e generations if the nation put in place aggressive welfare package for the aged in order to motivate the youth to 93die a little for the nation". He admonished the clergy to write their sermons and structure them wel= l in a simple message in order to disseminate the 93undiluted word of God"= , as done by the former moderator to serve as syllabi and reference document and the avoidance of repetitive homilies.

Very Rev Frimpong-Manso, who is also a past Chairman of the Christian Council of Ghana, expressed dissatisfaction about the state of poverty and oblivion most retired ministers of the gospel are trapped in after faithfully tending the flock of the Lord, adding: 93The leadership of the church must plan for such people."

He also hammered on the fact that the country has no comprehensive welfare system to cater for the aged, which he said would have made it possible for them to enjoy good pension, free medical care and transportation among other things.

He asked the government to set aside some of the proceeds from the oi= l and gas industry to cater for the weak and vulnerable senior citizens as a way of putting in place a welfare package for the nation. Very Rev Frimpong-Manso commended Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asantehene for sowing a seed of GH¢10,000 for the foundation.

The former moderator also promised to provide the book and a previous one he has published, 93Tend the Flock" free of charge to President John Evans Atta Mills, Vice President John Dramani Mahama and previous President= s and Vice Presidents in order to offer good counseling to the citizenry. Bishop Charles Agyin Asare, President and Presiding Bishop of the Word Miracle Bible Church and Vice President of the Ghana Pentecostal Council, who chaired the programme, commended Very Rev Frimpong-Manso for com pillin= g his sermons into a book in a bid to change the poor reading habits of Ghanaians.

Rev Kwabena Kodua, who co-chaired the function lauded the author for setting up a pension fund for the clergy and asked Ghanaians to invest in the foundation to earn divine favour.