THE Vice-President, Mr John Dramani Mahama, has indicated the determination of the government to create a strong national security and efficient judicial systems through training to deal with the anticipated oil and gas disputes and litigation likely to be associated with the industry.
He said the government was also aware of the high expectations of the populace in relation to the emerging oil industry of the country.
The country is expected to start producing oil and gas in commercial quantities in the last quarter of the year and has created a petro-related human resource agenda to that effect.
In an address read on his behalf at the opening ceremony of the 10th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana in Takoradi last Saturday, Mr Mahama said the government was committed to ensuring the successful management of the oil and gas industry.
On the theme: “Empowered by the Holy Spirit”, the six-day meeting is being attended by 1,000 delegates involving 50 per cent laymen and 50 per cent ordained ministers from both local and overseas congregations of the 182-year old Presbyterian Church.
The conference is expected to adopt strategies for the coming year and elect the 16th Moderator, who would head the church for a six-year term.
The Vice-President said the government, through its “Better Ghana” Agenda, recognised the modernisation of agriculture, provision of key infrastructure, fiscal stability, development of the emerging oil and gas industry, information and communication technology, as well as the delivery of quality social service programmes, as the targeted areas for poverty alleviation.
He noted that the problem of high levels of poverty, unemployment, malnutrition, corruption, poor housing and other evils militating against the country’s growth agenda could only be solved when all stakeholders in the country, which the church is a part pooled resources to build a prosperous and vibrant nation.
Mr Dramani added that the government was also concerned about the growing level of indiscipline, ethnicity, lack of respect for political leadership and sabotage in the country which were affecting the fledgling democracy.
He suggested that the church established special resource centres for the training of moral and servant leaders while engaging in more income generating ventures, as well as carrying out more effective advocacy and social action programmes on issues such as child trafficking, drug abuse, tribalism and constitutional review.
The outgoing Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG), Rt. Revd Dr Yaw Frimpong-Manso, urged the church to move away from its over-dependence on offerings and tithes in the light of current trends of fatigue in giving and poverty of most of members of the church.
“Let us put in every effort and resources and with the help of God to execute our resolve for viable investments and projects to sustain the financial base of this church,” he emphasised.
The Rt. Revd Frimpong-Manso said the Millennium Development Fund established by the church had so far yielded about GH¢146,652.37 which it had since invested with the Databank Asset Management and Intercontinental Bank Investment Account.
He also said the Presbyterian Foundation had yielded a reserve of GH¢1,312,163.66 as of June 2010.
The General Secretary of the Christian Council of Ghana, Rev. Dr Fred Deegbe, said the council had formed a coalition with the Ghana Pentecostal Council, for the purpose of advocating the prudent use of the expected revenue that would accrue from oil and gas production.
He explained that it was the belief of the council that the revenue from oil and gas production would be better managed if it was solely managed by an independent commission with parliamentary oversight.
Deserving members of and some individuals including the Regional Page Editor of the Daily Graphic, Mr Samuel Kyei Boateng, were honoured in recognition and appreciation of their contribution to the church in particular and the nation at large.
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