A nation that prays together stays together- Archbishop

Accra, Feb 22, GNA - Ghana would on Sunday, March 14, 2010 witness unity in diversity among Christians when they converge at the Independence Square in Accra, in a national prayer festival to climax a week-long period of fasting and thanksgiving in appreciation of God's abundant blessing for the nation.

At the lauch of the programme in Accra on Monday, the Most Reverend Charles Gabriel Palmer- Buckle, Metropolitan Archbishop of Accra, stressed the need for patriotism rather than unecessary critcism and bickering to move the nation forward.

President John Evans Atta Mills would address the prayer session on that day and give thanks to God for his blessing to the nation.

Christians, Muslims and traditional religion practitioners would all take part in the programen with their versions of prayer on different dates during that period referred to by some people as Ghana's spiritual week. The public prayer week, which was proposed by President John Evans Atta Mills, is now formlised and would be continued even with a change in Government, The Most Rev Palmer-Buckle announced at the press conference to launch the week.

He stressed that a nation that prays together stays together, and that the simultaneous offering of prayers by Christians and Muslims, as well as the pouring of libation by traditional religious worshipers at public events had promoted national unity.

The Most Rev Palmer-Buckle said the church and state should partner each other for the well-being of the people, and that it was time that Ghanaians recognised that the land of Ghana belonged to God, and give of their best to its progress. "Let's look at Ghana in the image of God," he said. The Rev Dr Nii Amu Darko, Chairman of the Planning Committee, said sponsorship from individauls and corporate institutions would be welcome so that Government money would not be used for the programme. Some of the prayer points during the week would be thanksgiving prayer for Ghana's 50th anniversary as a Republic and 53 years of independence; confession of sins of idolatry; immorality; indiscipline; ritual murders; drug trade and 'sakawa' which are expected to be said for such curses to be broken.

Prayers would also be offered for the Executive, National Security and the Security Agencies, as well as the Legislature, the Judiciary, the Media, the Agricultural Sector and revival in the community and workplace.