Mills stresses Godly values for better Ghana

Accra, June 16, GNA- President John Evans Atta Mills on Tuesday re-echoed his call for national unity and underscored church and state partnership in nation building, stressing Godly values to ensure a better Ghana.

In a comment on the "That all may be one" motto of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG), President Mills asked Ghanaians to go beyond unity and seek the face of Almighty God to acquire embedded Christian values that would make life better for all Ghanaians. President Mills made the call when a delegation from the Mission Council of the Association of Churches and Missions in South West Germany (EMS) paid a courtesy call on him, at the Castle, Osu, in Accra. The courtesy call comes ahead of a Council Mission (the Governing Body) meeting of the association to be hosted by the PCG and scheduled for Abokobi from June 16 to 21.

The EMS, formed in 1972, is an association made up of mission societies, notably the Basel and the Moravian Mission and six churches in Germany to further develop and promote a close relationship between churches in Germany, Africa and Asia in the spirit of mutual partnership and of sharing spiritual gifts and material resources. Since 1995, the EMS Mission Council has comprised 36 delegates of all the EMS fellowship- 23 churches and five mission societies in Germany, Switzerland, Ghana, South Africa, the Middle East, India, Indonesia, Korea and Japan.

President Mills said the nation felt honoured that the Association had chosen Ghana for its meeting.

He expressed Ghana's appreciation to Germany for its contribution to her development, adding, "the EMS is providing the icing on the cake."

The Presbyterian Church, President Mills said, also had a record in assisting in diverse ways in the development of Ghana. Notable areas are education and vocational training, provision of health services and agriculture in add ition church witnessing and ensuring discipline in daily life.

The delegation, led by Rt. Reverend Yaw Frimpong-Manso, congratulated President Mills on his election to the high office, and Ghanaians for holding democratic elections in a peaceful manner. "Ghana for the past years has become a role model for many nations in Africa and likewise all over the world. We wish to express our admiration for this great achievement," Rev. Eberhard Will, Chairman of the Mission Council said.

Tracing the links between Ghana and the Presbyterian Church from the 19 century when the Basel Missionaries arrived n Ghana, Rev Eberhard said a number of partnerships links had since been developed, some of which are ecumenical with workers in a number of communities in Ghana, youth volunteer exchange programmes and the financial support to youth programmes and close contact with Ghanaian churches, notably the Presbyterian Church.

Rev Eberhard assured the President of the prayers of the EMS. He prayed: "May God bless you and through the guidance of the Holy Spirit grant you strength, courage and wisdom for the welfare of the people of Ghana." Rt. Rev Yaw-Frimpong Manso said the Benediction.