The Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG) has asked the Electoral Commission (EC) to create a level playing field for all political parties to ensure that the 2012 election is free and fair. The Church also appealed to the EC to put in place the necessary framework before executing the bio-metric electoral registration and voting process in order not to jeopardize the poll. Addressing a news conference in Accra Monday to throw more light on a communique of the Eleventh General Assembly, the Moderator of the General Assembly of the church, Rt. Rev Professor Emmanuel Martey, said openness and transparency should be the hallmark of the EC to ensure that all political parties were satisfied with the electioneering processes. The Church held its general assembly at Abetifi-Kwahu in the Eastern Region, from August 19 to 25 under the theme: "The Holy Spirit and the Believer." It is an annual conference which gives members of the General Assembly of the church the opportunity to deliberate on national issues and come out with solutions to facilitate the development agenda of the country. The Moderator, flanked by the other top hierarchy of the church, said when the electioneering process was free and fair none of the candidates could challenge the outcome of the results. Against this backdrop, Professor Martey appealed to the government and other donor partners to help resource the EC to adequately and promptly fulfill its constitutional mandate. He said the PCG was hopeful that the 2012 elections would come off peacefully without any "challenges," and gave the assurance that the church was seriously interceding for the country for a peaceful poll. Professor Martey advised the leaders and citizens to recognise and always rely on the power and sovereignty of the Holy Spirit in all their pursuits, particularly for national renewal and self development. The Moderator touched on a wide-range of socio-economic, land political issues including the church, governance, corruption, national security, education, health, housing, the environment, youth and sports development, labour and employment and homosexuality. The PCG, he said, was dismayed at the recent spate of acts of indiscipline and criminal behaviour among some church leaders which, to a great extent, had dented the good image of Christianity and caused contempt for the clergy. The PCG, therefore, reiterated its call to the Christian Council, the Catholic Bishops Conference, the Ghana Pentecostal Council and the Council of Charismatic Churches of Ghana to develop structures and procedures to deal with erring and deviant behaviour in the church. Touching on governance, Professor Martey called on the government to address poverty in rural and urban areas, youth unemployment, insecurity, bribery and corruption, lack of accountability and transparency as well as pride and arrogance exhibited by some government officials and political activists. He said the PCG was appalled by the rising level of corruption in the country, which was seriously eroding the integrity of public functionaries and other officials in the private sector. He therefore, called on the government to institute more stringent measures to discourage and curb the practice. "Ghanaians should make a serious self examination of conscience concerning the canker of bribery and corruption, nepotism, favoritism, and repent before their sins of commission and omissions," Professor Martey advised. The Moderator reiterated the PCG's strong abhorrence for homosexuality and same-sex marriage, saying homosexuality was unscriptural, un-African, and run contrary to the country's cultural norms, values and customs. He said any attempt to legalise or promote the practice would spell doom for the country since it was the leading cause of HIV/AIDS in the country.