Exhibit for integrity in all actions - Prof. Andam

Accra, Oct. 18, GNA - Professor Kwesi Andam, Vice-Chancellor of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology on Saturday said the country would continue to languish in poverty unless Ghanaians learn to exhibit integrity in every sphere of life.

Addressing the 57th graduation ceremony of the Trinity Theological Seminary, Prof. Andam stressed that despite the efforts being made to speed up the process of development, the nation would have nothing to show if individuals did not change from their dishonest ways. The theme for the graduation was: "Theological Education and National Development."

Prof. Andam said corruption, bribery and indiscipline in various forms, has plagued the society and combined to rob the country of the gains it could otherwise have realized from all the years of hard work. Prof Andam said, selfless devotion and dedication to development is the cornerstone of the Bible and urged Ghanaians to sharpen their tools of integrity and hard work to move the country's development process forward.

"If we work hard in honesty, we should be counted among the middle level countries of the world in the next ten years."

Prof. Andam urged the graduands to regard themselves as strategic partners in development and play their role successfully to put the country on the path to sustainable development in the next ten years. On religious tolerance, Prof. Andam said the current harmony between the various beliefs should be nurtured and sustained.

He urged Christians to promote peaceful co-existence with Moslems, traditionalists and others in the minority to inspire the necessary confidence in them, adding, "we must refuse the invitation to violence." Ms Elizabeth Ohene, Minister of State (Tertiary Education), asked the graduands to pursue other fields of knowledge to enable them to meet the aspirations of their flock and the communities they serve. Rev. Dr Emmanuel Asante, President of the Seminary, said the Faculty is working seriously to seek accreditation from the National Accreditation Board for a Master of Theology programme, which is scheduled to begin in September 2004.

He said the seminary needed to improve on its female intake. This year the school admitted 312 students, of which only 33 were women. Rev. Asante appealed to individual developers and churches to enter into partnership with the Seminary to meet the need of students' residential facilities.

He said the current practice, whereby some ministerial students are non-residential was not in the best interest of ministerial formation. In all, 123 students, who completed a course of study in various programmes of the seminary, were awarded Degrees, Diploma and Certificates in Divinity, Ministry and Theology.

There were special prizes for deserving students with the best student, Bachelor in Divinity going to Reverend George Opare Kwapong. 17 OCT. 03