Reconcile current and former Presidents - Presbyterian Moderator

The Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG), the Right Reverend Dr Yaw Frimpong-Manso, has stressed the need for cordial relation between the President and the former Head of State.

He recalled an initiative by the Christian Council of Ghana some time ago to resolve the impasse between the two, but said the attempt was not welcomed. "Despite the insults we received from a cross section of the citizenry, in our desperate attempt to join the two together, it is imperative for the Church to put pressure to ensure that their relationship become healthy," he said.

In a sermon at the induction of the Akuapem Presbytery Chairman of the Church at Akropong on Sunday, the Moderator stated that reconciliation between them would augur well for the development of the country. He noted that, as Ghana was about to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the country's independence, the nation needed unity and reconciliation more than ever before and "the best people to show the way to unity and reconciliation is the former and sitting President".

Preaching on the theme "Christ the universal King," he urged leaders to be mindful of the fact that no authority except that of God was everlasting and called on them to put their trust in Christ, "who reigns forever". He mentioned the rise and fall of kingdoms and the execution of former Iraqi leader, Saddam Hussein as events that gave credence to the fact that no ruler or kingdom was absolute.The execution of Saddam Hussein must make leaders conscious of their actions to humanity when they were in power.

Rt. Rev. Frimpong-Manso described the execution as a sad one and noted that "earthly justice required that those who committed crime against humanity should be dealt with on earthly terms". He called on Ghanaians to desist from the "pull him down syndrome" that had become a canker in the society, which impeded development and progress.The Moderator called for a better approach in the New Year as the nation prepared for the 50th independence anniversary to make way for progress.

The Moderator advised the Presbytery Chairman to discharge his duties as a servant of Christ, the universal King and to desist from all forms of iniquity that could bring reproach. He reminded him that corruption, indiscipline, nepotism, political acrimony and inconsistency of faith among others, were some of the challenges and urged him to put his trust in Christ.

The Presbytery Chairman, Rev. Dr Joseph Obiri Mante, who is a Senior Lecturer at the Trinity Theological Seminary, would hold office for five years. He noted that the accomplishments of the Presbytery required better performance during his term to move it forward and called for the prayers and support. The Presbytery Chairman, said development of the presbytery could not be achieved without the transformation of the lives of the less privileged.

He thanked the General Assembly and the Presbytery Council for the confidence reposed in him by nominating and electing him into that office.
Source:GNA

Gold workers threaten strike on new pay system

Workers of AngloGold Ashanti at the Obuasi mine in Ghana are threatening to stage a demonstration on 2 January to protest a new pay system introduced by the parent company in South Africa.

According to the workers at Obuasi in central Ghana, the new pay system, known as EDICOS, is cumbersome to operate and has led to some anomalies in their salaries.The Chairman of the workers union, Kwarko Mensah, said the EDICOS system is creating a lot of problems for the workers and the union in particular.

He said the union leaders have been criticised for not protecting the workers` interests with regard to the problems associated with the pay system.Mensah said though the Obuasi management team is aware of the problem, they cannot do much about it.

A management source told reporters that the problem is receiving the best of attention and expressed the hope that the workers would see the need not to embark on the demonstration.

Saddam Execution.....Full Cell Phone Footage

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-7532034279766935521
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Goodbye 2006, Welcome 2007

I have been scouting around for the most appropriate photo for 2007. I think this expresses aptly, what I wanted.
Enjoy this year.

Kufuor launches Ghana's Golden Jubilee Celebrations

President John Agyekum Kufuor on New Year's Eve launched Ghana's Golden Jubilee Celebrations in a nationwide radio and television broadcast.

He said; "given the solemnity of the celebration, the highlight of which falls on the 6th of March, let us as a nation usher in that very special day by holding vigil on its eve".

President Kufuor said "the Jubilee Celebration is a unique opportunity not only to demonstrate our unity as a nation, but also to highlight the many opportunities for commerce, business and tourism. It is the occasion to bring to the fore our famed arts and culture and our traditional warm hospitality".

He appealed to the entire nation to display a high sense of responsible citizenship, dignity and commitment to the success of the Jubilee Celebration adding; "sprucing up the home and the environment should be part of the commitment. The sense of pride in our environment ought to be on display not only for the occasion but for all times".

President Kufuor, therefore, urged all including the District Assemblies; Traditional Authorities; Religious Groups; Market Leaders; Trades Unions and the entire civil society to join together to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of the nation in a befitting manner.President Kufuor reserved a special word to the young people of Ghana, saying: "The future belongs to you.

Fifty years ago I was a teenager looking to the future with great hope and expectation. Unfortunately, the experience had not been half as good as most young people of my generation dreamt it will be. "I want to speak on behalf of the elders and adults of this nation and say that, with our resolution of today, we are prepared to set things aright and sustain them, so that the path will be easier and smoother for you.

"But one thing is sure; you must use every opportunity to prepare yourselves diligently so that you will not fail this nation and yourselves when your turn comes. Seize the moment and become worthy citizens of our country", he said.
Source:GNA

Shun those bent on destroying the nation's peace - JAK

President John Agyekum Kufuor has called on Ghanaian Muslims to shun those bent on using undue political influence to destroy the peace and harmony the nation was now enjoying.

They should be wary of people, who through hypocrisy would try to influence them and create division in the society, he said at the national celebration of the Eid-Ul-Adha, the feast of sacrifice, in Accra on Saturday.

Vice President Alhaji Aliu Mahama and the wife Rahamatu and Hajia Alima Mahama, Minister of Women and Children's Affairs, were among the large congregation of Muslims at the forecourt of the Trade Fair Centre, La for the celebration.President Kufuor said; "Ghana is acknowledged as the oasis of peace in the West African Sub-Region" and that a major contributing factor for this had been the happy and harmonious coexistence of religions.

He said it was, therefore, important for people of the different religious faith to continue to cooperate in the pursuit of peace and to live in peace.He told them that the Government had the best of intentions for the Muslim community and asked for their total support towards efforts at pulling the country out of poverty."Ghana is moving out of hard times.

We are strong where we are now. If we work together and move together, we would be heading towards prosperity."Let us accept as a people, to appreciate the good things happening to our country and work together to sustain them", he said. President Kufuor used the occasion to highlight the impending National Identification (ID) Programme and asked that no citizen of the country should feel threatened by the registration exercise.

The ID would make for easy governance and to enhance development, he said and called on all communities to take part in the exercise. Touching on Ghana's Golden Jubilee Celebration, President Kufuor enjoined the people to have a change of attitude towards environmental sanitation.

He said it should become part of their culture to do away with unsanitary conditions to convince the rest of the world that Ghana was indeed on the path of progress.Sheikh Nuhu Sharabutu, the National Chief Imam, in his message to Ghanaian Muslims said as they celebrated the occasion of the Eid-Ul-Adha, they should not forget the plight of the needy, the less fortunate and the deprived in society.

He said beyond sharing of meat of sacrificed animals they needed to show greater generosity to the poor and the socially disadvantaged. Earlier in a welcoming address, Alhaji Gado Mohammed, a member of the Muslim Council of Elders, said the Muslim Community was grateful to the Government for the Sate Award given to the National Chief Imam. The Chief Imam was awarded the Order of the Volta and this, he said, was an honour they were proud of.
Source: GNA

Offer special prayers for Allah's protection-Mills

Professor John Evans Atta Mills, Flagbearer-elect of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), on Friday urged Muslims to join their Christian brothers to offer special prayers for Allah's guidance and protection in 2007.




Making the call in Accra, Prof Mills stated that it was the wish of the NDC to see the peaceful co-existence of Ghanaians in the years ahead. He was at the Abbosey Okai Central Mosque to express the party's gratitude to Muslims in the country for their prayers, which resulted in its peaceful National Delegates Congress on December 21.




Dr Kwabena Adjei, National Chairman of the party, Dr Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, one of the four contestants, Mr Jonathan Tachie-Kommey, Member of Parliament for Odododiodoo, Dr E G A Don-Arthur, leading member, and Mr Elvis Afriyie-Ankrah, Deputy General-Secretary, were among dignitaries who accompanied Prof Mills.



Another delegation of leading members of the NDC, made up of Alhaji Mahama Iddrisu, Mr Eddie Annan, the two other contestants for the flagbearership, Mr Johnson Asiedu Nketia, General Secretary and Mr Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, leading member, also joined Ahmadis at their headquarters at Ashongman, near Accra for the congregational prayers.GNA