The Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Rt. Rev. Prof. Joseph Obiri Mante has said that the contribution of the Church to socio-economic development of Ghana since it was established cannot be over emphasized.
He said, the track record of Presbyterian Church of Ghana on provision of educational institutions from kindergarten to tertiary level, health institutions such as health posts, clinics, health centres, hospitals and health training institutions is very enviable.
The Moderator said this in a sermon at a thanksgiving service at the Peyer Congregation of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Bantama in the Asante Presbytery to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the Presbyterian Relief Services and Development (PRSD) a registered non-governmental organization of the Church.
Rt. Rev Prof. Mante urged members of the congregants to be grateful to God for bringing such institutions into the life of the Church. He said he was very grateful to God for the contribution of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana over the years and pledged that the Church would continue to contribute its quota to the development of society.
The Moderator said judging from what the Church has been able to do all these years makes him proud to be a Presbyterian.
He pledged that the Church would continue to make judicious use of all the monies that come in.
“When the Church takes offering and other fund raising, we do not give it to an individual to buy things for him or herself or live a luxurious lifestyle, but we use it to fulfill the scriptures as found in Matthew 25:40. As a Church, we are grateful to what the Lord has done through us and we are happy to be doing the Lord’s work” he said.
The Moderator commended the PRSD for its support in the delivery of water and sanitation services.
The Coordinator of the Presbyterian Relief Services and Development, (PRSD) Mr. Emmanuel N. Ankamah gave an overview of the activities and successes of the organization over the past ten years.
These included the provision of potable water to deprived communities, livelihood employment projects and provision of support for communities hit by disasters.
Some achievements of the organization included the following; reduction in risks through better understanding of hazards, reduction in vulnerability to hazards with capacity building workshops, relief supply (food and non-food items) to affected victims as short term measure, capacity building and installation of 200 handy clean wash in various Institutions, 450 direct beneficiaries (women farmers) in 8 communities capacity enhanced and supported to improve on farming practices and income levels 969 women in 14 small scale mining communities mobilized and supported to engage in meaningful income generating ventures through Village Savings and Loans Association (VSLA) concept, over 5000 persons sensitized on HIV/AIDS prevention activities and stigma reduction, Presec Coaltar, provided with a library and computer laboratory to enhance teaching and learning amongst other notable achievements
Present at the services were the Asante Presbytery Chairperson, Rev Benson Osafo Kantanka, the Director of Development and Social Services of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Rev Daniel. E. K. Asante, the Department under whose ambit the PRSD operates, Board Members of the PRSD and of Ministers of the Church.
