Bishop cautions against whipping ethnic sentiments

Agona Swedru (C/R), Nov. 19, GNA - The Right Reverend Dr Joseph Kow Ghunney, Bishop of the Winneba Diocese of the Methodist Church, Ghana, has advised Ghanaians against whipping up ethnic sentiments as this could lead to disintegration and impede national cohesion and progress.

He said both the church and the state could not be properly and systematically developed without a sustained spirit of unison among people who profess to be Christians.

Bishop Ghunney was addressing members of Agona Swedru Bethesda Methodist Church at a fund raising harvest in aid of a new church building.

The occasion was also used to dedicate to the glory of God, a set of new choir robes worth millions of cedis, donated by Nana Kurankye Ntsiful X, an executive member of the Church.

Rt Rev Ghunney charged the citizenry to strive to cultivate and jealously maintain the virtues of truthfulness, honesty, and hard work, to enable them to build a strong, stable, peaceful, powerful and rich nation.

He expressed satisfaction at the level of unity, co-operation and mutual understanding that exists between the leaders and members of the Agona Swedru Bethesda Methodist Church, which is helping the church in many ways and advised them to guide and protect it.

Bishop Ghunney prayed for peace and economic breakthrough for the nation in all segments of national endeavour.

He reminded Christian businessmen and businesswomen, traders, landlords and transport operators of the need to pay their taxes in good time to strengthen the economic base of the nation.

Reverend Mrs Joyce Susie Kurankye, Resident Minister in charge of the Swedru Bethesda Methodist Church, urged Christian parents and guardians to play their parts effectively towards a national crusade against indiscipline, particularly among the youth.

She warned that failure to place the country's youth in the right perspective as far as good morals were concerned, would cause the nation a great deal in future.

Nana Kurankye who chaired the function, urged Christians who have not enrolled their kids of school going age to take advantage of the Capitation Grant (CG) and School Feeding Program (SFP) to enrol them.

Nana Kurankye said the adage: "education is the key to development" was not a hoax as some people perceive it that was why the government, churches and other religious organizations kept on calling on parents and guardians to educate their children.

Very Reverend Samuel E Nketsiah, Superintendent Minister responsible for the administration of Agona Swedru North Circuit of the Methodist Church, advised Christians to renew their love and commitment to the goals and aspirations of communities in which their churches operate to help them make positive contributions to their economic emancipation and progress. 19 Nov. 06