Stop the Lies- Rev. Akrofi says

Accra, July 14, GNA- The Most Reverend Dr Justice Ofei Akrofi, Diocesan Bishop of the Anglican Church of Accra on Thursday said Ghana would continue to enjoy its peace, harmony and reconciliation if politicians and the press desisted from the culture of lies. Addressing the third and final session of the 18th synod of the Diocese of Accra Rev. Akrofi said, "a nation that peddles in lies is on the slippery road to disaster.

"If after all our experiences in independent Ghana, we have learnt nothing, then let us continue to our destruction," he said. He said, "Our nation is afflicted by lies and lying in national political life... and in the process, the reputation of our beloved country is being torn to shreds, all because people want power." Speaking on the theme, "Building Christ's Church", Rev. Akrofi said there were too many nominal Christians, whose lives were not consistent with what they profess.

"Politics is inevitable in any group life, but it must be done in such a way that the standards of Christ which builds the church are maintained." He said building Christ's church in Ghana entails involvement of people who feared God and standing up against the culture of lies and lying. " That, church is not only the one building located in some corner of our Diocese; it is where Christ's standards are to be proclaimed, lived and modeled in this world created by the God and Father of Jesus Christ."

Touching on indiscipline and corruption, Rev. Akrofi said it had become the canker of "our time" "On the roads there is indisciplin e. In some parishes people of God and priests have been accused of playing hooky with funds of the parishes and family lives are collapsing because people choose not to do as Christ has commanded," Rev Akrofi said.

Rev. Akrofi suggested a review of the provisions of the Diocesan constitution, saying that there is no justification in organising synods whose decisions were hardly executed by parishes, congregation and archdeaconries in relation to the cost involved in organising such synods.

He said, "the sheer cost of organization of synod is proving astronomical, especially the accommodation. On the other hand when one considers the returns on a synod operation, one is hard put to justify the long and residential synod." Rev. Akrofi therefore proposed that a six-year term of synod be considered rather than the three-year term.

"I believe that two synods in six years term will give a better chance of achieving results," he added. He cautioned the Anglican Church of being too 'priest-centered' and in the process there was a practice, which suggests that the church was the priest and the laity were almost on-lookers and urged the synod to help change the system.