Let's grow, develop as one nation (15/12/08)

Story: Jennifer Dornoo
THE Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG), Rt Reverend Dr Yaw Frimpong-Manso, has called on Ghanaians to stop harping on their historical achievements in order to move the country forward.
"Let us not depend on our history but take steps to move the country forward towards the realisation of our dreams," he stated.
The Moderator, who was speaking at the joint 30th anniversary and thanksgiving service of the Accra New Town District of the church at the Kotobabi Swag Park in Accra yesterday, stressed the need for Ghanaians to grow and develop as one people and one nation.
Speaking on the theme, "Break Camp and Advance", he said Ghanaians needed to change from the uncertainties that thwarted their forward march and development.
He urged Ghanaians to acquire more skills and work very had to develop the country politically, economically, socially and spiritually in order to take possession of the promised land.
Rt Rev Dr Frimpong-Manso said Ghanaians should rather learn lessons from where they fell short in their history and work hard towards correcting those mistakes in order to achieve success.
He advised Ghanaians not to be complacent with what the country had achieved so far, since that might hinder their quest to achieve greater things for the development of the nation.
He congratulated the country on maintaining the peace during the December 7 polls and expressed the hope that the run-off would be peaceful and successful too.
The District Minister of the New Town District of the PCG, Rev Kwabena Ayeh, said it was the aim of the district to win more souls for Christ, hence the theme.
He attributed the unwanted behaviours and indiscipline among the youth to the fact that they had not encountered God in their lives.
He said the church undertook projects such as the construction of schools to train children from the nursery level to the tertiary level to develop them socially, morally and spiritually.
The District Session Clerk, Mr Philip R. Addai, paid tribute to all the pastors who had contributed to the success of the district.
He said the district took its roots from the formation of the Accra New Town Congregation (formerly Lagos Town), founded by Mrs Kate Otemma Brenya and officially inaugurated in 1952 by Rev T. T. Laryea of the Adabraka District.
He said the congregation grew in size and stature by embarking on evangelism activities, which led to its elevation to a district status by the a former Moderator, Rt Rev G. K. Sintim-Misa, on January 1, 1978, with Rev W.E. Okae-Anti as the first District Minister.
Mr Addai said the district, which currently had over 13,000 members, consisted of seven congregations — the Accra New Town, Alajo, Alajo North, Abelenkpe, Redemption, Kotobabi and Gethsemane congregations — and three preaching posts at Dzorwulu North, Accra New Town Northern Outreach Post and the Alajo Northern Outreach Post.