Prophetess Mary Agyarko Sasah III, the General Overseer of the First Apostles Church International, Ghana, has cautioned the youth to abstain from substance abuse, drug trafficking and immoral lifestyles to secure a better future.
According to her, the rate at which majority of the youth were abusing hard drugs and alcohol, and engaging in immoral lifestyles, called for concerted efforts to halt it before it got out of hands.
She said the time had come for the youth to aggressively pursue higher education and learn vocational and technical skills for brighter future.
The General Overseer gave the advice at a media briefing on the sidelines of a three-day annual convention of the church, at Agona Swedru in the Agona West Municipality of the Central Region.
She said church leaders, voluntary organisations and relevant government agencies must intensify the crusade against substance abuse.
Prophetess Agyarko Sasah cautioned young people to abstain from immorality, deception, scam and other negative tendencies militating against their progress.
They should seek the transformation of life by taking Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour.
She reiterated calls on Ghanaians and Christendom to avert negative perceptions about the first Apostle Church as being idol or pagan religion.
Mr Samuel Mansuma Otoo, the Senior Prophet of the church, called for co-operation between the ruling government and the opposition to foster peace and development.
He said when two elephants fought it was the grass that suffered and so government in power must have sound engagements on important national issues with the opposition parties to foster economic and financial prosperity.
He added his voice to the clarion call on the youth to distance themselves from drug abuse while parents, guardians and other relevant agencies played their parts to minimise substance use among the youth.
Rev Charles Arthur, the General Secretary of the church, said the annual convention was to assist the leaders, prophets and prophetesses to re-examine the progress of the church.
He said the world had become a global village and the church had provided an enabling environment for the members, especially the youth to take the opportunity to learn trades instead of relying on non-existent white colour jobs.
Mr Ransford Yaw Agyarko, the National Chairman of the church appealed to government and non-governmental organisations (NGO) to support the church in its efforts to establish a vocational and technical school.
The National Chairman said the church had invested heavily in education, especially technical and vocational to empower the youth to be economically stable, and to generate job opportunities for others.
GNA
