Right Reverend Francis Amenu, Moderator of the
Evangelical Presbyterian (E.P) Church, on Thursday said Ghana's economic stability must address issues such as injustice, rancour, discrimination, partisanship and divisiveness in the society.
"Callous name calling and labelling of people because of their ethnic roots should be completely eschewed within our society if we are looking for the establishment of a stable nation bent on achieving the dream of a better Ghana for all her citizenry."
Rt. Rev. Amenu said this at the opening session of the second General Assembly of the Church at Peki on the theme: "Enhancing Human Dignity."
"All citizens of our dear country deserve equal treatment, a place where nobody is made to feel inferior and his or her self image reduced to a state of nonentity because of how different he or she looks.his or her political leanings or faith persuasion," he said.
Rt. Rev. Amenu said the dignity of a person is rooted in the image and likeness of God for which reason people in authority must work for the
restoration of dignity of the sick, poor, sinners, refugees, women and children.
"Even criminals also have dignity as human beings and deserve to be given second chance," because human worth was not based on possessions,
achievements, physical attraction or public acclaim, but on being made in the image of God.
Rt. Rev. Amenu, therefore, charged the Church as the voice of the voiceless and the less privileged in society to strengthen the advocacy for a just economic order and fair trade in the world and care for the rights and dignity of "women caught in the web of witches' colonies."
He asked the Church to propagate the idea that, "there is no second class human being."
Rt. Rev. Amenu urged governments to set achievable goals within the political atmosphere and initiate "appropriate programmes that could lead to the enhancement of human dignity."
Mr Joseph Amenowode, Volta Regional Minister said the concept of human dignity was fundamental to the character and nature of human beings and that everybody has a deep need to be respected and treated as human beings.
He, however, said while it was important for people to be given dignifying treatment and recognition, it was equally necessary for one to
command respect and honour by leading lives worthy of commendation.
Mr Amenowode said, "one does not necessarily need to be wealthy in the world to command respect but must win respect by being disciplined, honest, principled, faithful and exhibit descent lifestyle."
He commended the E.P Church and others for supporting government in proving social amenities but asked them to extend financial support to their needy members to enable them engage in income generating activities to lead dignified lives.
Mr Amenowode exhorted Christians to pay their taxes including personal and property taxes because government was doing God's work of satisfying their needs.
He asked the Church to study the new National Youth Policy to identify what role they could play to ensure its successful implementation.
Fraternal messages were received from local and foreign faith based organizations including the World Council of Churches and traditional
authorities.