MP calls on African leaders to exhibit good leadership qualities

Kumasi, Dec. 26, GNA - Alhaji Muntaka Mohammed Mubarak, Member of Parliament (MP) for Asawasi, has appealed to African leaders to endeavour to be transparent, God-fearing and accountable in their stewardship for a sustainable development of the continent. He said people entrusted with positions should at all time exhibit good leadership qualities and be committed to the effective utilisation of the resources at their disposal. This, he said, would help address the perennial problem of poverty, diseases, hunger and the high unemployment rate among the youth that had plagued the continent.

Alhaji Mubarak was speaking at a Christmas convention of the Oforikrom branch of the Church of Pentecost in Kumasi on Monday. The MP said it was imperative that Christians used the Christmas festivities to promote intra-religious unity and cohesion, noting that the stability of the nation to some extent depended on "Our respect for each others religion". "In as much as God loves us all, irrespective of where we are coming from, so should we also love our neighbours", he remarked. He stressed that there was the need for religious leaders to preach against religious discrimination in all its forms and magnitude since such a practice was a disincentive to consolidating the peace being enjoyed in the country. Alhaji Mubarak also visited the Saint Theresa' Catholic, Methodist, Ebenezer Presbyterian and Anglican Churches, all in the Asawasi constituency to worship with them to mark the Christmas celebration.

In a sermon, the Very Reverend John Priddy, Minister in-charge of the Asawasi Methodist Church, advised Christians to shun practices that were in contravention with biblical tenets so as to boost the growth of Christendom to an appreciable standard. In a message to the churches, the MP charged Christians to commit resources to helping the needy and poor in the society with the view to enriching their lives. He donated a bag of rice, soft drinks and boxes of biscuits to each of the churches as his contribution towards the upkeep of the poor during the Christmas festivities.