Catholics to abhor bribery and corruption:

Tamale (Northern Region)

Christians have been asked to use the renewed spiritual strength at Easter to fight bribery and corruption in the society. At an open air mass to mark this year's picnic (Easter Monday) celebrations, Reverend Gregory Kpiebaya, Catholic Archbishop of Tamale, appealed to Christians to heed to the warning by Jesus "not to pour new wine into old skins", and must shed all vices for the unhindered entry of the Holy Spirit into their lives. Thousands of people from all walks of life are taking part in the picnic, which is organised annually by the Catholic Church, to round off several weeks of fasting. It is characterised by merry-making. The effectiveness of the happy occasion of Easter would be lost if Christians do not change and adopt new lifestyles, Archbishop Kpiebaya had reminded the congregation. "No one puts fresh pito into old pots - both will be lost. Bribery and corruption are some of the old pots we refuse to throw away. Let us not carry these old pots into the third millennium". Archbishop Kpiebaya urged Christians to adopt new lifestyles, embodied with love, honesty, integrity and truthfulness. He expressed regrets that "bribery and corruption has become so ingrained in our civil and political machinery, that it has become almost institutionalised". Conversely, he said, the political and administrative systems do not guarantee and safeguard the individual and social rights of the ordinary Ghanaian, and there are many Ghanaians who are prepared to sacrifice integrity and a good reputation for personal gain. Archbishop Kpiebaya said it is in recognition of the destructive nature of bribery and corruption that the Catholic Bishops conference has embarked on a crusade to eradication it.