By Eric Appah Marfo
Accra, Feb. 6, GNA – The Government has reaffirmed its commitment to work with faith-based organisations to promote moral values, national cohesion and sustainable community development.
Madam Rita Naa Odoley Sowah, Deputy Minister of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, said religious bodies, particularly the Church, were critical partners in shaping Ghana’s moral and spiritual foundations and advancing national development.
She made the statement at the opening of the 2026 Conference of Heads of Churches and Organisations of the Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council (GPCC) in Accra.
The two-day conference, on the theme “Reflecting Christ” (Matthew 5:16), brought together Heads of Churches, General Secretaries and Regional Executives of the GPCC to pray, seek God’s guidance and deliberate on national and ecclesiastical issues.
Madam Sowah said the Ministry recognised the Church’s influence beyond the pulpit and would continue collaborating with faith-based organisations to strengthen communities and foster unity.
“When the Church gathers, the nation listens. Unity in Christ is one of Ghana’s greatest strengths,” she said, adding that engagement with religious leaders was vital in times of social change and national challenges.
Madam Sowah urged church leadership to be guided by transparency, accountability, and unity.
“Leadership transitions are moments of renewal. Let us ensure that we are guided by transparency and unity, so the Church remains a beacon of stability, not division,” she said.
Madam Sowah called on the GPCC to support national initiatives, including the second National Day of Prayer and Thanksgiving scheduled for July 1, 2026, to be led by President John Dramani Mahama. She also encouraged participation in the monthly National Sanitation Day exercise.
“By leading this exercise, the Church will demonstrate that reflecting Christ means caring for both the soul and the soil, reminding us that cleanliness is both a physical and spiritual responsibility,” she said.
The Deputy Minister announced a donation of GH¢10,000 from the Ministry to support the conference.
In his welcome address, Apostle Dr Eric Nyamekye, GPCC President, described the Council as Ghana’s largest ecumenical Christian body and emphasised its responsibility in shaping the nation’s moral direction.
“The Church is an appointed vessel for God’s glory in our generation. We are called to be a visible and tangible representation of Jesus Christ in the world,” he said.
He urged leaders to recommit to holiness, integrity and practical Christian living that would confront corruption, greed and immorality, and encouraged participants to approach the conference as a spiritual encounter rather than a social gathering.
The conference is expected to conclude with resolutions to deepen collaboration among member churches and reinforce the Church’s contribution to Ghana’s moral, spiritual and national development.
GNA
Edited by Kenneth Sackey