Thanksgiving service held to mark Ghana@50

Kumasi, March 5, GNA – Very Reverend Professor Emmanuel Asante, Head
of the Department of Religion of the Kwame Nkrumah University of
Science and Technology (KNUST), has said the church must take
responsibility for chaplaincy work in schools.
He said chaplaincy must be considered as a very important
aspect of the ministry of the church in respect of educational
institutions.
Very Rev Prof Asante was preaching at a non-denominational
Golden Jubilee thanksgiving service at Asem Boys' School Park in
Kumasi on Sunday on the theme, "Moral Excellence in Ghana, Focus on
the Youth in the next 50 years".
He said the problem of moral decadence of the society cannot be
considered in isolation from the moral state of the wider society,
adding all agents of moral socialization, the family, church
educational institutions and the state are all culpable.
Very Rev Prof Asante therefore called for relevant philosophy
of education that will among others things be directed towards the
ideals of patriotism, citizenship, fellow-feeling and the ethic of
responsibility rather than the ethic of individual rights.
He said the report of the Commission of Basic Education in
1968, called also for the inculcation of human values, ideals of
brotherhood of man and religious and moral beliefs, adding, those
should be integral part of the educational system.
He stressed the need for the setting up of moral goals and
strive to make all who come to live with us aware that "We recognize
and prize our values and realities besides wealth and material things.
On punishment and reform of offenders, he said in addition to
punitive measures the nation needed reformative measures.
Mr Emmanuel Asamoah Owusu-Ansah, Ashanti Regional Minister,
commended the Local Council of Christian Churches for their assistance
and support towards the golden jubilee celebration.
He said from their own resources the churches have organized
clean-up, lectures, float through the principal streets of Kumasi and
church services.
Mr Owusu-Ansah called for continued support from the churches
and assured them of the co-operation of the Regional Co-ordinating
Council.
Right-Reverend Nuh Ben Abubekr, Methodist Bishop of Kumasi and
Chairman of the Local Council of Christian Churches, said all should
join in the celebration in recognition of the blessings God has
bestowed on the nation.
05 March 07