The Manhyia District Police Commander, Rev. Dr. Nana Nyamekye Adane Ameyaw, has charged churches in the country to make it a duty to convert criminals in society to Christians “to help reduce crime.”

“Through effective evangelism, the church can reach out to lots of criminals, most especially the youth, in various corners in the communities, as well as those that are still in the churches,” he emphasized.

He was of the view that crime will be reduced to the barest minimal in the country for the law abiding citizens to have their peace, if the church decides to preach the gospel to miscreants living in the ghettos.

Rev. Dr. Adane Ameyaw was speaking to DAILY GUIDE shortly after he was honoured with a citation by the Methodist Church of Ghana, the Abrankese Society in the Kuntunase District of the Ashanti Region.

The church decided to honour the police chief following his service to humanity and splendid contributions to the Methodist Church, especially the Abrankese Society.

Part of the citation read, “Rev. Dr. Nyamekye, words cannot express our profound gratitude and appreciation to you for your selfless and enthusiastic contributions made to the Methodist church of Ghana in general and Abrankese Society in particular.

“You have demonstrated exemplary character of open-handedness and set the tone for your contemporaries to have the opportunity to emulate this enviable quality.”

Mr. David Amo-Boateng, a top member of the church, who read the citation, urged the police officer to sustain his good works for the church so that more souls would be won for the kingdom of God.

Rev. Dr. Ameyaw, who is a branch pastor of the Christ Apostolic Church, Asokwa, in the Kumasi Metropolis, also entreated churches to offer financial support to their members who are cash-strapped to help improve their lives.

According to him, aside contributing to the spiritual needs of the people, the church should also make sure that its members, who are in dire need of physical materials, are supported.

The police chief said it is wrong for the church to abandon criminals, noting that such people (criminals) needed to be preached to about the saving power of Jesus Christ “so that they will leave the darkness and come into the light.”