Ejura (Ash), Aug 26, GNA- The Ghana Baptist Convention is sourcing 140,000 dollars for the training of women in skill development in line with government's policy of reducing poverty through job and wealth creation.

The Rev Dr Kojo Osei-Wusuh, President of the Convention, who announced this, said gari-processing factories would also be established for the women.

The Rev Dr Osei-Wusuh was addressing the opening ceremony of the 41st annual session of the Convention at the Baptist Women's Resource Training and Retreat Centre at Ejura on Thursday.

The five-day session is being held under the theme: "Ensuring Sustained Growth Through Commitment And Co-operation".

The Rev Dr Osei-Wusuh lauded the way the government had managed the economic and socio-political life of the country, saying, "there is no doubt that looking back from where we have come from, the government is worth a lot of commendation.

Conditions have not reached even half of where we would like to be as a nation, life is still hard, unemployment is still high and poverty may be rising, but there is the believe that government intentions are good and the signs show we are on the right track", he said.

The Rev Dr Osei-Wusuh said one area that the church would want to see more action on indiscipline.

The Rev Dr Osei-Wusuh called on the government to be proactive towards promoting technical, vocational and business education in the country.

"It is good upgrading one senior secondary school in each district, and it would be better if at least one technical/business and vocational school were also provided in each region."

Mr Sampson Kwaku Boafo, Ashanti Regional Minister, asked the Church and the minority political parties as well as other civil society organisations to join hands with the government to make the December elections peaceful.

The Regional Minister told churches to use their pulpits to educate their congregation on their civil rights and responsibilities and to encourage them to turn out in their numbers to cast their votes on the voting day.

He reminded Christians that they have a weapon which is the gospel and that they should use it to change people's attitude. Mr Boafo commended the church for its social services in the areas of health, agriculture and vocational training for freed Trokosi women.