Criticisms of govt must be constructive - Minister

Abura Dunkwa, May 4, GNA - The Central Regional Minister, Nana Ato Arthur, has urged Ghanaians to offer constructive criticism to the government when it is not living up to expectation and to also commend it when it is on the right track.

The Regional Minister said constructive criticisms would help the government to know the feelings of the people about its policies and programmers to enable it to make amendments where necessary, while the commendations would encourage it to do more for the people. Nana Arthur made the call when he addressed the 46th Annual Synod of the Cape Coast Diocese of the Methodist Church at Abura Dunkwa. The theme for the four-day Synod was: "Witnessing in the Power of the Holy Spirit-The Role of church organizations".

Nana Arthur said though it had been established that about 70 per cent of the Ghanaian population was Christian, "our way of life does not portray us as followers of Christ".

"We must leave marks for people to miss us not only when we are dead but even when on transfers", he stated. The Regional Minister admonished Ghanaians to let their shortcomings in the 50 years of the country's existence as an independent nation to guide the people to plan for the 100 years' anniversary, adding "We should not repeat the mistakes we made in the past 50 years".

The Regional Minister expressed regret that many girls who registered for the Basic Education Certificate Examination, which ended last week, failed to write the examination due to pregnancy. "Can't children of the Central Region be able to complete at least junior secondary school?" he asked and called for a drastic solution to the problem.

The Rt Rev Isaac Kwesi Quansah, Bishop of the Diocese expressed regret that members were no longer engaged in evangelisation work but had rather turned their organizations into welfare associations to provide benefit packages for members on bereavement or during weddings or engaged in other social activities.

"Quality of life of members of church organizations should be the fruit of the Holy Spirit", the Bishop stated and added that going to hospitals and prisons to offer gifts was not enough. They should be able to win their souls as well.

The Evangelical Methodist Church, the Presbyterian Church, Ghana Evangelism Committee, the Chief of Aura Dunkwa and the DCE for Abura-Asebu-Kwamankese all delivered fraternal greetings. The Synod donated a rehabilitated mini-bus and four motorbikes to some of the societies in remote and inaccessible places.