Join hands with government to fight corruption — Limuna

The Northern Regional Minister, Alhaji Mohammed  Muniru Limuna, has urged the Church to join hands with the government to fight corruption in the country.

Government's commitment to fight corruption 

He said the government had demonstrated its commitment to fight corruption and so all segments of the society, including the Church, must lend their support to the government in its fight against this "perceived" and "real" corruption.

He cited the recent exposé about the National Service Scheme (NSS) and that of a former Minister and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Ghana Youth Employment and Entrepreneurial Development Authority (GYEEDA), who is  standing trial at the law court, which shows the government's commitment to fight corruption.

"If the government was not interested in fighting corruption,  it would not ask for investigations into the affairs of the NSS and also let a former minister  face prosecution," he stressed.

Alhaji Limuna was speaking at a thanksgiving service to climax the  40th anniversary celebration of the establishment of the Tamale  Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Ghana  (EPCG) at Kukuo in the Tamale metropolis on Sunday.

The Tamale EPCG was established in 1973 and the fortnight-long celebration was marked with a health walk, revival, prayers, health screening  and other pro- social activities.

It was on the theme, "God of Life, Lead us to Justice, Peace and Dignity for Wholeness." 

The Church as agent for fighting corruption.

Alhaji Limuna, who also represented the First Lady, Mrs Lordina  Mahama,  as the guest of honour,  urged the church to find innovative ways of raising funds as its current mode of fundraising exerted pressure on members, thereby forcing them to use 'ways and means' to get money to participate in such activities in the church.

"In such instance where people do not have the money to participate in these fundraising, they may feel bad and may be forced to also indulge in corrupt practices to get money to also come and show off in church,"he stated.

" In other words,  the Church is not helping the people to eschew corruption as it uses this method of raising funds in which people are asked to step forward to give a certain amount or buy an item   at a certain amount during fundraising in the church," he stated.

Commendation

Alhaji Limuna commended the EPCG for the provision of social and economic services to the society, which meet their physical needs aside the spiritual and moral uplift.

Sermon

The Moderator of the Upper Northern Presbytery (UNP) of the EPCG, Reverend   Humphrey A. Alidu, in a sermon, said the Church should take a position to eliminate corruption, irresponsible or unethical behaviour, and injustices in the society that brought harm to the people and the environment, as well as be the voice for the voiceless and fight suppression in the society.

" Our society has been engulfed by social evils such as racism, crime, liquor and drug trafficking, "Sakawa" (the desire to get rich quick by every possible means), slum and violence and issues of the environment," he stated.

The Tamale District Pastor of the EPCG, Rev. S.K Matti, earlier in his welcome address, paid glowing tribute to the memory of the founding members of the church, both dead and alive.