President Nana Akufo-Addo has admitted he needs the support and prayers of Ghanaians and the church to be able to successfully deliver on his mandate.
He said the electorates voted for him in 2016 because they were dissatisfied with the living conditions and how the economy was being managed at the time, and needed the New Patriotic Party steer it back on track to improve their conditions
“We have begun to work on the fundamentals of the economy, because we believe that an improved macro-economy is a fundamental requirement for stimulating the investments we need for the significant expansion and growth of the national economy, and the generation of wealth and jobs,” he said
He said this when he addressed the 75th anniversary celebration and 72nd graduation ceremony of the Trinity Theological Seminary in Accra Saturday.
President Akufo-Addo said measures put in place so far has seen results with growing stability of the macro-economy.
The reduction in inflation and interest rates, and the abolition of nuisance taxes by his government, he said, is to shift the focus of the economy from an emphasis on taxation to production.
He said the government has started the implementation of initiatives such as the Free SHS policy, the Programme for Planting for Food and Jobs, the 1-District-1-Factory Initiative, the National Entrepreneurship and Innovations Plan (NEIP), to help start-ups.
He said it has also reintroduced the Mass Cocoa Spraying Exercise, and re-afforestation programmes, amongst others.
“The Youth Employment Agency (YEA) is poised to employ some 60,000 youth. Extension officers, health professionals and teachers are now being employed, again, to provide much needed support for our agricultural, health and education sectors,” he added.
With 71.2 per cent of the population practicing Christianity, the President said that Christian theological education is of no use, if it cannot translate into a system of moral recovery and practice.
Nana Akufo-Addo entreated the Church “to speak out against the ills of our nation, and join Government’s fight against them – corruption, social and economic injustice, crime, the illegal mining menace, popularly referred to as galamsey, and the new phenomenon of vigilantism.”
“That is why my government is keen on restoring more control back to the churches over the missionary schools. I am glad that many religious groups now seem to want to concentrate on the tertiary sector in the provision of education,” he added.
President Akufo-Addo, nonetheless appealled to the sponsoring churches of the Seminary to take a look back to the early childhood sector, as the churches used to be very active in that sector.
“There is an obvious, great need in this sector as we seem to be failing our young people. There is no gainsaying the fact that the most critical stages of education for any child are the early years. The words of Holy Scripture tell us, again, that ‘train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will never depart from it’”, he said.
The President continued, “Starting with our schools, we have to teach virtues, values and morals, and love for each other. If this is not done, we will be failing our young people. The churches have a proven track record in this sector, and I urge you to go back and help our nation. I daresay it would be useful for the growth of the churches as well.”
He also urged the grandaunts to rise up to their religious responsibilities, and stimulate the desired motivational spirit of renewal and transformation towards effective nation building.
“The growth of the Church should be measured not only in the number of its followers, but also in the quality of its members, who are dedicated to uphold the spiritual virtues of Jesus Christ. A Church, even with a limited number of congregations, can make a difference by breaking new grounds and bringing light where there is darkness,” he added.
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