Don't disturb national peace - President Mills

Ho (V/R), Aug 18, GNA - President John Evans Atta Mills has stated that government would not sit idle and allow any person or groups of persons to disturb the national peace for the desire to win political power.

He gave a firm assurance that he would hand-over power peaceful just as it was handed over to him in 2009 when the need arose. "As we approach another election year, l want to assure you that as a very responsible government we are committed to a fair playing field and will protect the sanctity and integrity of the electoral process," President Mills said in Ho. He was opening the 3rd General Assembly of the Evangelical Presbyterian (EP) Church, Ghana on the theme: 93Integrity in Mission and Ministry".

President Mills enlisted the church to join government to ensure a peaceful election next year and warned that no person was more important than the nation.

President Mills advised against the misuse of the tongue to create political problems, explaining that the poison and damage in the use of intemperate language 91'cannot be recalled''. "Let us not say anything in anger," President Mills said and explained that words were potent spiritual forces that could destroy what the nation had taken time to build over the years. President Mills expressed worry that some people had no respect for the truth as well as no regard for upholding the principles of morality.

He called for self inspection and turn over to rise above the words that were likely to destroy the nation.

The President commended the EP Church, Ghana, for partnering government in terms of education, health, Agriculture and evangelism among other human empowerment and capacity building programmes. He said for instance, in the area of education, the EP Church continued to be a trail-blazer as was evidenced by its establishment of the first University in the Volta Region.

"This singular move of yours is extremely laudable and as government moves to establish the second University, there is no doubt that there will be a symbiotic relationship between the state-owned University and the EP University".

"Indeed the EP University will forever be a 91Big Brother' of all future University that will come the way of the region," the President said.

He also commended the Church for its efforts in afforestation to protect the environment.

President Mills challenged religious bodies, especially the leadership of the Christian community to redeem its sinking image. "The image of Christianity is under heavy attack and as we continue to deliberate on the theme, it is my hope that the good Lord Himself will provide you the way forward as regard salvaging the image of the Church," President Mills said.

He pointed out that the integrity of Christianity was being questioned and urged Christians to fight to bring glory to the maker (God) and to redeem the image of Christianity. "This is the task God has asked us to fulfil and we therefore should not fail," President stated. President Mills said the integrity of the nation was also paramount, and requested the Church to pray for people in leadership positions.

The Synod is also being attended by representatives from the World Communion of Reformed Churches, the Christian Council of Ghana and the Bremen Mission of Germany among other institutions as well as partner churches, Ministers of States and Members of Parliament.