Monday, April 19, 2010

HELP FIGHT CORRUPTION, OTHER CANKER (SPREAD, APRIL 19, 2010)

PRESIDENT John Evans Atta Mills has asked the Catholic Church to help in a sustained crusade against corruption and other negative practices that have retarded the country’s development.
That, he stated, had become necessary, since moral persuasion and religious appeal could better deal with the canker at times than the justice system.
The President made these remarks in an address read on his behalf by the Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, at the consecration of the Most Rev Gabriel Edoe Kumordji as the first Bishop and Apostolic Vicar of the Catholic Church of a newly created vicariate at Donkokrom in the Kwahu North District (Afram Plains).
The impressive ceremony, which was attended by a number of dignitaries including top Catholic priests from both the country and abroad, was also used to raise funds for the construction of a cathedral in the vicariate.
The Eastern Regional Minister, on behalf of the President, donated GH¢1000 and 200 bags of cement towards the project.
President Mills stated that although his administration would not embark on a campaign of witch-hunting of innocent Ghanaians, it would not also countenance corruption, mismanagement and fraudulent practices.
The President called on Ghanaians to eschew negative partisan politics and put Ghana first in its development endeavours.
President Mills advised the people to serve any government in power and said his administration was open to suggestions and criticism in good faith.
With regard to the development of the Kwahu North District, President Mills said the government would continue with a number of projects and programmes initiated for the rapid development of the district.
He mentioned some of the projects as the rehabilitation of the existing roads and the construction of new ones such as the Mame Krobo-Agogo road that would link the area with the Ashanti Region, provision of two additional pontoons on the Volta Lake and several other initiatives under the Millennium Challenge Account (MDA) and the Afram Plains District Agricultural Development Project (APDADP).
President Mills commended the Catholic Church for partnering the government to provide educational and other social amenities for the people and expressed the hope that the creation of the vicariate in the Kwahu North District would further enhance the development of the area.
He also congratulated the new bishop on his elevation.
In a homily, the Bishop of the Koforidua Diocese, Most Rev Joseph Afrifa Agyekum, dwelt on negative practices such as abortion, murder, same sex marriage and corruption and asked Bishop Gabriel Edoe Kumordji to be courageous in dealing with them.
“Your elevation has come at a time when we have all these negative and sinful practices such as abortion, murder, same sex marriages and corruption and you must speak the truth and be bold in dealing with them”, Bishop Joseph Afrifa Agyekum exhorted the new bishop.

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