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Christians must lead way to responsible citizenship

By Samuel Akumatey, GNA

Ho, Oct. 18, GNA – Professor John Owusu Gyapong, Vice Chancellor of the University of Health and Allied Sciences, has called on leaders to consider themselves divinely chosen, and reflect God’s tenets in their activities towards the development of a more responsible society.

He said religious leaders particularly those of the dominant Christian faith, must lead the way to becoming responsible citizens.

Professor Gyapong was delivering the keynote address at the opening of the 2018 African Biblical Leadership Initiative (ABLI) forum, organised by the Bible Society of Ghana in Ho, which was on the theme: “Civic Responsibilities and Nation Building.”

He asked them to emulate quality leaders recorded in the Scriptures, and consider their duty as service to God and not mankind, saying “if you see yourselves as leading on behalf of God, it would go a long way to change society”.

Professor Gyapong, also a member of the Bible Society, charged leaders to be bold and stand for the truth in all circumstances.

He further said civic responsibilities were crucial to national development and that the citizenry must show dedication to service for the good of country, saying, environmental degradation was one major indictor of gross irresponsibility, and that addressing such required headstrong leaderships supported by people who were willing to work towards reversing negative trends in society.

The Reverend Dr Erasmus Odonkor, General Secretary of the Bible Society, lamented that despite proliferation of Churches in the Country, moral standards left much to be desired and underscored the need for all to come together to build the nation on integrity and responsibility.

He also asked leaders to find ways of exhibiting love, honesty and transparency in their line of work.

Rev. Father William Kornu of the Ho Diocese of the Catholic Church said the nation did not need “many Churches or Christians”, but rather people living according to the Word of God truthfully, and commended the Bible Society for targeting the youth for spiritual and attitudinal change.

Rev. Seth Mawutor, Volta Regional Chairman of the Christian Council Ghana, appealed to Christians to renew their minds and be committed to the socioeconomic development of the nation.

The forum was organised by the Bible Society of Ghana, a branch of the United Bible Society, formed in 1965 to translate, publish and distribute the Holy Scriptures.

This year’s forum brings together leadership in government, the Legislature, Judiciary, Church organizations, industry, education, and the media among others.

GNA