The President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has urged churches across the country to help build a progressive and prosperous country, and also help realise the vision of moving Ghana to a situation beyond aid, i.e. a Ghana Beyond Aid.
According to President Akufo-Addo, “I believe we can, and we should be able to build a Ghana which looks to the use of her own resources and their proper management as the way to engineer social and economic growth in our country. With the help of the Church, I am confident that we can realise this vision.”
The President made this known on Sunday, 10th November, 2019, at the dedication of the Tema Children’s Church of the Apostolic Church-Ghana, Community 5 District, in Tema, Accra.
Reiterating his commitment to helping to improve the living standards of Ghanaians, he appealed to the church not only to continue to uphold the spiritual virtues of Jesus Christ, but also “help build a progressive and prosperous Ghana, strongly anchored on love for God”.
With the Tema Children’s Church of the Apostolic Church-Ghana, being the first of its kind to be built solely for the purpose of reaching out to children and the youth in Tema and its environs, the President told members of the congregation that “you should be fulfilled in the knowledge that you are obeying the teachings of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. For, if you welcome any child into these premises, you have welcomed Christ, Himself, here.”
To the Pastors, teachers, parents and members of the Congregation, he reminded them of the responsibility of imbibing into the children the virtues of Christ, and instill in them the beliefs of this Church.
“Teach them, as prescribed by St Luke, to love God with all their hearts, souls, strengths and minds; and love their neighbours as they would to themselves. The Gospel of St. Matthew, chapter 18, verse 6, tells us, again, that ‘if anyone causes one of these little ones to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck, and to be drowned in the depths of the sea’”, he added.
Describing the youth of Ghana as the nation’s most important asset, President Akufo-Addo told the congregation that he is working to guarantee that knowledge becomes the backbone of the country’s modern economy and prosperity.
“We are now at the point where we need to complete the transformation of our country into a modern, 21st century nation that remains distinctly and uniquely Ghanaian. It is for this reason that investments in our educational system have become a key priority of my government,” he said.
The President continued, “As a result, poverty, today, is no longer a barrier to accessing education. 1.2 million children, the highest enrolment in senior high schools in our history, are now benefitting from Free SHS. Ghana needs well-trained, well-qualified and skilled human resources of integrity and faith to propel us on the path of socio-economic transformation.”
Whilst urging the Church to continue to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ, win souls, and serve the people of Ghana and Almighty God, President Akufo-Addo appealed to the congregation to pray for him, his Government and his appointed, so that “we exercise our responsibilities with humility and integrity, and pray for Ghana, that she remains united and continues to strive for progress, prosperity and the embrace of God.”
