Ho, Nov. 3, GNA - The Leadership of the Evangelical Presbyterian (E.P) Church, Ghana has directed that its Chapels throughout the country should "remain closed on Sunday 7 December, 2008", the election day. Instead, all congregations of the Church are to hold their regular Sunday worship on Saturday December 6, 2008 from 7.00 pm to 9.00 pm. The directive was contained in a pastoral letter signed by Right Reverend Frank Anku out-going Clerk of the General Assembly of the Church, and read to all congregations throughout the country last Sunday November 2, 2008.

The letter said the decision taken by the "Synod Committee Executive, in consultation with Synod Committee" of the Church, was to afford Church members the opportunity to exercise their franchise on 7 December, which would fall on Sunday.

The Catholic Bishops' Conference had earlier directed Catholics to hold their Sunday Mass on Saturday, December 6, 2008. The Christian Council of Ghana of which the E.P. Church is a member, last Wednesday said it was not in the position to compel any Christian denomination to worship ahead of the Sunday December 7. The Council's Chairman Right Rev. Dr Yaw Frimpong-Manso said the GROUP could only urge Churches to hold Sunday service on 7 December early to enable members to exercise their franchise.