By Michael Foli Jackidy
Ho (V/R), Aug. 14, GNA – The Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Ghana (EPCG), has opened its 12th General Assembly in Ho with a call for cleanliness, integrity, unity and responsible stewardship of the church and the environment.
The Assembly is being held on the theme: “Cleanliness is Next to Godliness; Keep Clean.” It is expected to receive and consider reports, deliberate on the finances of the Church, formulate policies, address disciplinary matters, and elect a new Moderator to lead the Church.
Mr James Gunu, Volta Regional Minister, speaking at the opening ceremony on Thursday, described the theme as timely and profound, saying cleanliness went beyond keeping homes, churches, streets, and communities tidy.
He said cleanliness reflected discipline, dignity, responsibility and respect for God’s creation and humanity, adding that a clean environment was fundamental to public health, human dignity, and national development.
Mr Gunu said the government had renewed the National Sanitation Day as part of the broader Clean Up Ghana Agenda, which sought to mobilise citizens, traditional authorities, religious bodies, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) and other stakeholders to take collective responsibility for keeping communities clean.
He urged the EPCG to continue educating its congregations on proper waste disposal, handwashing, maintaining clean surroundings, responsible use of water, and protecting water bodies.
“The Church is not only a place of worship; it is a centre of moral education, community mobilisation and social transformation. The Church therefore has a very important role to play in this national agenda,” he said.
The Minister said the Region was translating the government’s development agenda into practical interventions across its 18 MDAs, with 618 district-level projects currently being implemented.
He said 234 of the projects had been completed, while 384 were ongoing, including 180 borehole projects and 62 CHIP compounds, alongside major education, and other infrastructure projects.
Mr Gunu said more than 371 Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) educational infrastructure projects had also been delivered across the region, covering classrooms, dormitories, dining halls, staff accommodation, sanitation facilities, and other infrastructure.
On potable water, he said the Water for All initiative, aimed at expanding access to safe drinking water in underserved communities, was progressing steadily, with about 19 mechanised boreholes delivered under its first and second phases.
He said the government was also expanding major water systems, including the Kpeve water expansion and the Agordome and Adidome treatment plants, while the Anyako-Konu-Seva water system had been restored, ending about 22 years of water scarcity in parts of the region.
Mr Gunu said the interventions demonstrated that water, sanitation, and hygiene were essential foundations for healthy, dignified, and productive communities, in line with Sustainable Development Goal Six.
He, however, stressed that government could not achieve the objective alone and called for stronger partnerships with churches, traditional authorities, schools, businesses, civil society organisations and citizens.
“Let us therefore make cleanliness a daily habit, a community responsibility, and a national culture. As we worship God, let us also honour Him by caring for the environment He has entrusted to us,” he said.
The outgoing Moderator of the EPCG, Rt Rev Dr Lt Col Bliss Divine Kofi Agbeko (Rtd), urged church leaders and members to uphold integrity in all aspects of their ministry and personal lives.
He said integrity in church ministry should not be treated as a slogan but practised through honest and Christ-like living, even in situations where there was no supervision or external pressure.
“Integrity must be practised from the pulpit to the back pew. Say what Scripture says, even when it is unpopular,” he said, quoting 2 Corinthians 4:2 on renouncing secret and shameful ways and avoiding deception.
Rt Rev Dr Agbeko said there should be no gap between what Christians preached and how they lived, stressing that integrity meant choosing God’s approval over human applause.
He urged the Church to prioritise quality of service over status and humility over pride, saying arrogance must be avoided if the Church was to effectively project Christ to society.
He also appealed to delegates to approach the business of the Assembly with maturity, love, and a spirit of unity, regardless of their differences.
Rt Rev Dr Agbeko disclosed that the 12th General Assembly would mark the end of his six-year tenure as Moderator, describing the period as “eventful and trying.”
He expressed gratitude to God for the experience and lessons learnt, and thanked his family, friends, well-wishers, those who prayed for him, the Ghana Armed Forces and the President for their support during his tenure.
GNA
Edited by Maxwell Awumah/Linda Asante Agyei