Ken Ohene Agyapong has called for a stronger partnership between the Church and the State to tackle unemployment and promote economic empowerment.

According to him, churches across the world have demonstrated that investing in profitable enterprises is essential to sustaining ministry, supporting the less privileged, and driving national development.

He noted that Ghanaian churches can follow this global example by investing in ventures that create jobs and contribute to the economy.

In Ghana, several churches already serve as models of responsible enterprise.

The Methodist Church Ghana owns Methodist Investments & Properties Ltd, while the Assemblies of God holds shares in Prime Insurance Ltd.

The Church of Pentecost operates Pentecost University and the Pentecost Convention Centre, alongside extensive real estate and agricultural projects.

Similarly, the Catholic Church, ICGC, Lighthouse Chapel International, Perez Chapel International, Action Chapel, the Seventh-day Adventist Church, the Salvation Army, and the Presbyterian Church of Ghana all run schools, hospitals, media houses, and commercial investments that support their social and spiritual missions.

The Catholic Church worldwide, the Church of England, the Latter-day Saints, Hillsong Church, the Southern Baptist Convention, and RCCG of Nigeria are among faith-based institutions that manage multi-billion-dollar investments to sustain evangelism, education, and social welfare.

Mr Agyapong argued that such financial wisdom should not be seen as contrary to Christian values but rather as a means of strengthening the Church’s mission.

He emphasised that encouraging Ghanaian churches to invest in productive ventures, including factories and technology enterprises, would help create jobs and reduce dependency.

“A wealthy Church is a defender of the poor, not a burden on them,” he asserted.

Ken Ohene Agyapong maintained that a financially empowered Church can be a stronger partner for national progress, adding, “Salvation is free, but ministry is not.”