THE Deputy Eastern Regional Minister, Muhamed Ahmed Baba Jamal, has said the NDC government is ready to forge a new relationship with religious organisations for the total development of the country.
He therefore stressed the need for all religious institutions to take up the new challenge in that respect.
He made these remarks when he addressed the 30th annual Synod of the Koforidua Diocese of the Methodist Church at Koforidua in the Eastern Region last Thursday.
The event, which brought together delegates from all parts of the diocese, was to take stock of the diocese’s activities and to strategise for the future.
According to Baba Jamal, the government considered churches, especially the Methodist Church, as partners in development and had extended its hands to them to play a more proactive role in supporting it for the provision of the much needed development for the various communities.
Baba Jamal who commended the Methodist Church for its significant contributions in education and social services expressed the hope that it would continue with such contributions to enable the people to enjoy a high standard of living as well as ensuring high moral, ethical and social values for the fulfilment of the nation’s spiritual and physical obligations.
To help fight the HIV/AIDS pandemic, Baba Jamal pleaded with the churches to make HIV/AIDS lessons part of their regular preaching and Bible classes to create awareness within the various congregations.
In his address, the Bishop of the Koforidua Diocese, Rt Rev Frederick Nnuro, outlined a number of projects that were being undertaken within the diocese to improve both the physical and material well-being of the people.
These, he said included a piggery and a school complex ranging from the KG to junior high at Maame Krobo as well as land for the establishment of another school at Ntonaboma, all in the Kwahu North District (Afram Plains).
Other projects, he stated, were a clinic at Hweehwee in the Kwahu West District while the same project was being considered for Abomosarefo and Supom in the Kwahu North District as well as a hostel for the Kukurantumi Campus of the Methodist University.
With regard to evangelism, he told the gathering that the diocese which won the coveted Presiding Bishop’s Special Evangelism Award had intensified its drive for that purpose, and that some of the circuits had already planted new churches at various places such as Ahwerease, near Aburi, Tei Nkwanta and Asuoyaa, near Adweso.
The Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church, the Most Rev. Robert Aboagye- Mensah, who also addressed the synod said the church had made a headway in income generating activities, and that the revenue accrued was being ploughed back to improve the fortune of the church, its members and society at large.
The Presiding Bishop who would soon be stepping down from his position stated that the church’s 10-Year Strategic Plan was in progress and allayed the fears of some members who were of the view that the plan would be discontinued as soon as he passed the mantle to his successor.
The Presiding Bishop whose speech sounded like a farewell message thanked members of the church for supporting him for the past six years as head of the church.
The Lay Chairperson of the diocese, Madam Frieda Bediako Asare, expressed her happiness about Rt. Rev. Nnuro’s address which according to her had the potential of improving the status of the diocese.
In a fraternal message, the Deputy Eastern Regional Police Commander, ACP Ampah Benning, praised the church for engaging the youth in a number of activities that had helped in reducing crime in the region.
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