Accra, July 5, GNA- A thanksgiving service, to thank God for the appointment of Mr. Joseph Amenowode as the Volta Regional Minister was held on Sunday by the Global Evangelical Church (GEC) in Accra. It was attended by the Moderator of GEC Rt. Rev. Dr. Emmanuel Gbordzoe, Rev. Price Tefe, Synod Clerk of the Church, Ms. Ekua Sena Dansua, Minister of Women and Children's Affairs, Mrs. Dzifa Ativor, Deputy Minister of Roads and Highways and some members of parliament from the Volta Region.

In a speech, Mr. Amenowode expressed concern about pockets of chieftaincy and land disputes tearing the region apart. In view of this, he said West Africa Network for Peace (WANEP) would be contracted to assist in restoring peace to conflict infested areas of the region.

He said no meaningful development could take place in the midst of turmoil and called on the all factions in the major conflict areas in the region to show their readiness to contribute to this peace overtures.

He said his major development plan for the region was to improve educational infrastructure in the area.

He said his vision was to ensure that no school in the Volta Region study under trees after his term of office.

He said plans were far advanced to construct the eastern corridor road, the shortest root to the northern regions.

He said the youth in agriculture policy of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government would absorb about 100,000 youth in the Volta Region but said however, that, what was needed was to educate the youth to accept to stay in the villages to take advantage of the employment opportunities that would be created from the policy. He said the salt industry at Keta would be revamped by providing capital and the needed equipment to the local people for increased productivity.

Delivering the sermon, the Moderator of the GEC, Rt. Rev Dr. Gbordzoe called on politicians to uphold to the right principles. According to him principles never changed, adding that, those who based their judgment on feelings would fail because feelings were susceptible to change.

He said Ghana could develop faster if Ghanaians were ready to give their time and resources towards the development of the country than scrambling for resources of the state.

Rt. Rev. Gbordzoe told tax administrators to use taxes, especially at the local levels judiciously for the good of the tax payers. He said city authorities must revise the estate development policies to avoid the haphazard way that buildings were situated in the city.

He wondered why there should be public toilets in the city as it was the duty of landlords and landladies who took exorbitant rents from tenants to ensure that they provide toilets in the homes. He called on all churches to provide washrooms at church premises and keep their environment clean.

Prayers were said for the progress, peace and the development of the country.