‘Bear with govt to resolve teething problems of free SHS’
The President of the National Ministers Conference of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Rev. Dr Jonathan Ayitey Mensah, has called on Ghanaians to exercise restraint and collaborate with the government in dealing with the teething problems which have come up with the implementation of the free senior high school (SHS) policy.
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“Negative minds look at obstacles, while positive minds look for results. I think with positive minds and prayer support, this programme will succeed to the glory of God. We need to bear in mind that without a target, we will aim at nothing,” he said.
Dr Mensah was addressing the opening session of the four-day National Ministers Conference of the church in Kumasi on Tuesday.
The conference, being attended by more than 1,000 participants, is a platform for the ministers to account for their stewardship in 2017 and seek God’s face and direction in 2018.
Dr Mensah urged Ghanaians to be proactive and optimistic in their approach to the implementation of the free SHS policy.
Speaking on the theme: “Character, the foundation of ministry”, he said President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo deserved thumbs up for the bold step in moving the free SHS policy from the drawing board to the implementation stage.
Quoting a comment by a leading member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr Edmund Kyei, he passionately appealed to Ghanaians to firmly rally behind the President and his government “because the President is a trustworthy person who will fulfil all his campaign promises before his term in office ends”.
He said for the President to boldly say that he would undertake the various policies and projects was an indication that with the support of Ghanaians, he would deliver.
He also asked the government to remain focused because without target, nothing could be achieved, adding that God who brought the government to power would see it through.
Character
He urged ministers of the Gospel to model their character after that of Christ because, irrespective of one’s ability, experience and control or gift, without a good character one would come to naught.
Answering questions from the Daily Graphic after the programme on the first-year performance of the President, Dr Mensah said “a journey of a thousand miles begins with a step and people who say we will do it will score 100 per cent, those who say we can do it will score 75 per cent and those who say we cannot do it will score zero per cent”.
Dr Opuni-Frimpong
The General Secretary of the Christian Council of Ghana, Rev. Dr Kwabena Opuni-Frimpong, urged the various churches within the council to pay greater attention to the growth and strength of the council.
He said the council was a relevant ministry that coordinated activities on the Christian front in Ghana but, unfortunately, individual churches were looking inward and paying attention to only their individual circles.
He said although it was important to build individual churches, churches must also learn to build bridges and prayed that individual churches would pay attention to the leading ecumenical body in the country.