Oguaa churches pray for peaceful elections

Cape Coast, Dec. 2, GNA - The Reverend Emmanuel Entsi Williams, Chairman of the Cape Coast Local Council of Churches, has said "the world is looking at Ghana" and that the maturity of the nation's democracy would be determined by the success of Election 2004. He urged Ghanaians to exhibit the highest sense of maturity during the elections to ensure that they were conducted peacefully and incident-free to enable the nation "to continue to be the envy of many African countries".

Rev. Williams, the Dean of the Cape Coast Anglican Church, said these at the opening of a two-day special prayer service for peaceful elections organised by the Council at the Wesley Methodist Cathedral in Cape Coast.

Churches in the Municipality attended the service and prayers were said for politicians, for peaceful elections, the development of the nation as well as for peace in Cote d'Ivoire.

He expressed regret that many people were living in fear and stocking goods in anticipation of trouble erupting and said those doing so were underrating the power of God.

Rev Williams appealed to Christians to use the few days before the elections to step up their prayers.

''Trust in God and do not entertain any fears because God guided the nation in the 2000 Elections and would do the same this year.'' Rev. Bishop Isaac Kwesi Quansah, Bishop of the Cape Coast Diocese of the Methodist Church, reminded the congregation of the electoral process and urged them to obey all rules and regulations governing the elections.

He told them to turn up in their numbers to cast their ballots to enhance the nation's democracy.