Accra, Dec. 21, GNA - The head of the Presbyterian Church has appealed to Ghanaian workers to use the Christmas festive season to stay at home in order to spend quality time with their family members and relatives. Rt Rev Dr Yaw Frimpong-Manso, the Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, said the season was a time for family members to get close to each other to reflect on the ideals of Christmas as well as to express goodwill. Delivering a sermon on Saturday at the Annual Thanksgiving Service organized by the ARB Apex Bank Limited in Accra, he said "Christmas is a season to renew relations and spirituality, especially for those who work hard such that they hardly find time to spend with their family members." Rt Rev Dr Frimpong-Manso urged Ghanaians to stay away from drinking and eating sprees that detracted from the principles and ideals of Christmas. He said the season had been overly commercialized by some greedy merchants such that the culprits are found engaging in their businesses on Christmas day instead of using the day to soberly reflect on the teachings of Christ and on salvation.

Rt Rev Dr Frimpong-Manso called on workers to spend any Christmas bonuses they might have received from their employers profitably and to remember the vulnerable, the sick, elderly, widows and senior citizens who might need financial assistance. "There is more significance to Christmas than the picnics, the eating and the shopping," he said adding that sharing the little that one had with the needy was a worthwhile course that brought blessings to both the giver and the recipient.

He lauded the relative peace and quiet Ghanaians enjoy and added that it was the blessing of God and that it called for thanksgiving. "While other countries experience natural disasters like tsunamis, typhoons and other catastrophes, Ghanaians enjoy peace though we face some challenges. In all these, we need to give thanks to God," he said.