The keynote speaker at the 7th Annual Development and Social Services (DSS) Consultative Forum, Dr. Esther Ofei‑Aboagye, has called on the Presbyterian Church of Ghana to position itself as a proactive, visionary force in national development, urging the church’s development actors to “stay ahead of the curve” in responding to emerging social, economic and environmental challenges.
Addressing presbytery chairpersons, committee leaders, development partners and practitioners, Dr. Ofei‑Aboagye said the church’s long heritage of social transformation must now be matched with forward‑looking strategies that anticipate change rather than merely react to it.
She noted that the interdependent nature of DSS work; spanning health, food security, livelihoods, empowerment, human rights, environment and social welfare, requires stronger collaboration, evidence‑based planning and accountability to communities.
She emphasised that the church must deepen its understanding of global and national development trends, integrate new knowledge into programming, and strengthen partnerships with traditional authorities, private sector actors, academia, media and other faith‑based institutions.
“Being ahead of the curve is about vision and proactive action,” she said. “It involves anticipating challenges, innovating, and setting the pace rather than following existing patterns.”
Dr. Ofei‑Aboagye urged DSS units to embrace innovation, explore new technologies, and identify areas where the church has comparative advantage. She encouraged stronger internal communication, better documentation of lessons learned, and more deliberate engagement with Presbyterian development professionals across the country.
She concluded by reminding participants that the church’s heritage is a foundation, not a destination, and that each generation must build upon it with creativity, diligence and integrity. “Heritage is not enough,” she said. “We must build new structures of compassion, innovation and justice on the foundation of Christ.”
By Jerome Otchere
