ADDRESS PERTINENT NATIONAL ISSUES...Akuapem Presbytery urges govt (PAGE 20)

THE Akuapem Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG) in the Eastern Region has issued a seven-point communiqué calling on the government to address some challenges facing the region and the country as a whole.
A copy of the communiqué, which was issued at the end of its 80th annual Presbytery meeting at Koforidua, was handed over to the Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo.
The communiqué specifically dealt with areas such as road accidents, armed robbery, rehabilitation of the Aburi-Nsawam road and activities of Internet operators, all in the region, as well as the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), education, the National Youth Employment Programme and polarisation of the country.
The communiqué, which was presented by a three-member delegation comprising Rev Godfred Bamfo, pastor in charge of the Koforidua District; Rev Asiamah Koranteng, who heads the church at Abiriw, and Mr George Larbi, the Public Relations Officer of the Presbytery, stated that the church was worried about the high rate of armed robbery and motor accidents in the region.
It, therefore, urged the regional minister to do his best to ensure that the necessary steps were taken to reduce accidents to the barest minimum.
On education, the Presbytery commended the government for increasing the Capitation Grant and its decision to extend the School Feeding Programme to more schools, but called on the Minister of Education to have a second look at its decision to ban extra classes and hold consultations with all stakeholders before taking that decision.
The communiqué also advised the government to tread cautiously in its attempt to revise the number of years to be spent in the senior high school, adding that reducing it from four years to three might create unnecessary inconvenience for the students which could have some negative impact on their academic progress.
It commended the government for continuing with the NHIS and promised to include public education on the scheme as part of its evangelistic activities to rope more people into the scheme.
With regard to the economy, the communiqué expressed its satisfaction with the manner the government had handled it in terms of the global economic crunch but suggested that efforts should be made to address rising inflation and interest rates in the country.
It further called on the government to unite the country, since it had been polarised after the 2008 general election.
The communiqué urged the media not to inflame passion and children should be prevented from using the Internet for pornography.
 The regional minister thanked the Presbytery for concerning itself with such pertinent issues and said the communiqué, which would be given to the government, would also be used by the Regional Co-ordinating Council as a working document.