Ghanaians urged to join govt to uphold democracy

Accra, Dec.28, GNA - Right Reverend Dr Sam Prempeh, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG), on Sunday called on Ghanaians to join the government to uphold country's new democratic dispensation.

He said the military and the media must play a unifying role instead of fragmenting the people.

Rt-Rev Prempeh added: "the bullet and the pen are very powerful and should be used as weapons to protect and educate the masses but not for destructive and destabilizing purposes".

He was delivering the sermon at a divine thanksgiving service to climax the yearlong activities of the 175th anniversary celebrations of the church at the Independence Square in Accra.

The theme for the celebration is "Come Let Us Walk In The Light of the Lord".

Rt-Rev Prempeh said there was not doubt that freedom of expression was a vital ingredient of democracy, but cautioned that unguarded democracy or uncontrolled liberty could lead adding "Freedom of expression must have its boundaries at all cost".

He said as Ghanaians ushered in 2004, which would also be election year, they should maintain a culture of respect for one another and walk in the light of the Lord, abstain from insults, animosity and hatred. Rt-Rev Prempeh said: "Let our hearts be real and pure devoid of evil and malice. There will be more blessings in Ghana if we follow the call of our Lord to walk in his light".

He asked Ghanaians to avoid dishonesty, rancour and endeavour to demonstrate maturity and comportment they had shown in the past three years, particularly during the last general election.

The PCG with a membership of about 1.2 million in the country was established in 1828 by the Basel Mission Society (BMS) and the first four missionaries who arrived in the country on December 18,1828 were Holzwarth, Schmidt, Sabach and Henke.