The Parish Priest of Hwediem Catholic Church in the Ahafo Region, Rev Fr Matthew Kumi, has urged political office holders in Africa, particularly in Ghana, to serve diligently with discipline, humility, and patience.

According to him, these core values will greatly help politicians and other officeholders in achieving success, adding that the opposite traits will inevitably lead to failure.

Speaking at a Thanksgiving mass for the newly inducted District Chief Executive (DCE) for Asutifi South, Samuel Assabil Donkor, on Sunday in Hwediem, he reminded politicians that they are elected and appointed to serve, not to be served.

In an interview with JoyNews after the mass, the Catholic priest emphasised that every public office holder, as a servant, must be humble, respectful, committed to their duties, and above all, God-fearing.

He also noted that Jesus Christ, the foundation on which Christianity is practised, is a symbol of peace, and thus encouraged all his followers to be ambassadors of peace and unity in their efforts to serve their people.

Rev Fr Matthew Kumi encouraged the Asutifi South DCE to be a beacon of hope, unity, and peace in the district, fostering improvements in the living conditions of the residents.

Meanwhile, the DCE has called for a strong relationship and collaboration between the church and local governance authorities, encouraging their involvement in every policy and programme initiated by the government.

Mr Assabil Donkor also solicited the support of the district's residents, particularly the church, to participate in the upcoming monthly sanitation exercise by the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy, and Religious Affairs, as well as the Feed Ghana programme.

He has promised a robust partnership between his office and the religious groups in the Asutifi South district to ensure a collective approach to development.

The Asutifi South DCE has committed to bringing all his contenders in the DCE selection process on board, stating, "I will consult and engage with key stakeholder institutions in the district."