The President of the South Central Ghana Conference of the Seventh-Day Adventist (SDA) Church, Pastor Dr Kwesi Kwanin Boakye has urged Ghanaians to use the independence day celebration to pray for national peace, stability and progress.
They should also rededicate themselves to the cherished values of integrity, discipline,hard work and accountability.
He was speaking at a special service organised by the Women's Ministry of the Conference to mark 53 years of the country's political independence at the Amakom SDA church in Kumasi.
"To lift Christ up through thanksgiving and prayer," was the theme.
Pastor Boakye said it was only by turning to God, holding together and unity of purpose that the nation could lift itself out of poverty and the myriad of development challenges.
He said it was also important that Ghanaians became totally reconciled with God and accepted to live in unity and harmony with all, regardless of ethnicity, religious or political association.
He said it should not be lost on anyone that "God is a listening God."
He counselled the women to keep themselves united in the Holy Spirit and bind themselves together towards the goal of promoting national development.
Mrs Theodora Nsiah, Director of the ministry, pledged on behalf of the women that they would do their bit to support the growth of the country.
The ministry organise blood donation, support the socially disadvantaged and provide skills training to the unemployed.