News
Assemblies of God relaunches network for professionals
Rev Wegham in a group members of the AG professionals Network
Former Chief Justice, Georgina Theodora Wood, has asked Christian professionals not to be content with merely excelling in their respective fields of endeavour, but commit themselves to using their skills, influence, and resources in order to advance the Kingdom of God.
According to her, “the successes and achievements of Christian Professionals, whether in the field of medicine, law, engineering, entrepreneurship, or any other domain, are not meant to be mere feathers” in their caps, rather, they are divine instruments, entrusted by the Almighty, to be wielded for the advancement of God’s kingdom on earth.
Justice Theodora Wood was speaking in Accra at the re-launch of the Assemblies of God Professionals Network (AGPN).
The AGPN is the central platform within the church for connecting the wealth of professional experiences for the work of the Kingdom of God.
Formed in 2004, the AG Professionals Network established Prime Insurance Company Limited.
Challenges along the way could not enable the Network to fulfil its objectives of fully mobilising professionals from various backgrounds for the work of the Kingdom of God.
The re-launch of the Network is to enable it to achieve its objective of building a network of professionals in the church, mobilise members to contribute skills, funding and other resources for missions and ministry, and coordinate church and humanitarian projects that uplift underserved communities.
It is also to create a pool of resource persons in career guidance and counselling, contribute technical and financial resources for investment to revamp existing projects and to offer advisory service to the Executive Presbytery on issues and interventions that may require specialised competences.
The former Chief Justice spoke extensively on mentorship and discipleship, kingdom-minded investments, ethical leadership, economic empowerment and development, community outreach and evangelism as key areas the Christian Professional should focus their attention on. She entreated Christian professionals to rise up and fulfil their calling.
The Chairman of the Governing Council of the Assemblies of God Professionals Network, Mr Kwabena Adu-Boahene, traced the history of the work of Christian missionaries who gave impetus to the establishment of Assemblies of God in Ghana at a time when Christian missionaries were faced with huge socio-economic challenges among the populace in their quest to spread the Gospel.
He said, “to give practical meaning to the Biblical teaching of caring for the needy and alleviating the suffering of the people, Christian Professionals organised literacy classes for the indigenous people and taught them various arts of block-making, door and window frame fabrication, roof trusses construction and enhanced agriculture.”
He stressed that these professionals did not only preach the message, but also backed it with the work of their hand, adding that the contribution of Christian professionals to the spread of the gospel therefore cannot be underestimated.
Mr. Kwabena Adu-Boahene paid tribute to the Executive Presbytery of Assemblies of God Ghana led by the General Superintendent Rev. Stephen Wengam for reviving the professionals’ network to identify and unify the pool of gifted individuals to serve, using the skills and expertise God has given them.
The General Superintendent of Assemblies of God, Ghana, Rev. Stephen Wengam, expressed his appreciation to all those who worked hard to revive the Network.
He said, “Assemblies of God recognises the presence of professionals and the absolute need to mobilise them for missions, while providing the platform for their networking to create a pool for accessing such expertise and talents for effective administration of the church.”
He said leadership of the church was poised to bring professionals on board to provide expertise in its administration.
The group donated a brand new Nissan X-TERRA to the national office of the Youth Ministry Department of the church.
Also an ultra-modern office space was dedicated for the Assemblies of God Professionals Network. Similar offices are expected to be opened in the regions of the church.
By Anita Nyarko Yirenkyi
News
‘Nipahiamoa’ residents cry for basic social amenities
Residents of a farming community in the Nkoranza North District of the Bono East Region are living under conditions that directly reflect or connote the name of the township, Nipahiamoa.
The name of the town, Nipahiamoa, when translated directly means ‘humans need help.’
Despite the contribution in ensuring there is sufficient food in not only the region but the country at large, Nipahiamoa lacks basic social amenities to make life enjoyable after their farming activities.
water for the people of Nipahiamoa
According to some of the members of the community that The Spectator spoke to during a visit to the area, they lacked basic needs such as potable water, health post, among others.
This, they claimed, was impacting negatively on their general wellbeing and appealed to authorities to come to their aid.
The Unit Committee chairman of Nipahiamoa, Mr James Najohnbo, told this paper on Thursday that successive governments have neglected the town over the years.
“It is the reason we are where we are today in this era of development. Some people poke fun that our condition is a reflection of the name of the town but I don’t believe that. We have been neglected by governments over the years. There are no government initiatives here,” he explained.
The community, inhabited by over one thousand people, mostly settlers, is located on the Techiman-Kintampo stretch of the Trans-ECOWAS highway which connect from Tema to Mali.
Mr Najohnbo, who conducted this reporter around, revealed that a borehole constructed for the community by the former Member of Parliament for Nkoranza North, Major Derrick Oduro, had since broke down, compelling the people to turn to the Bono manso waterfalls which they trek several kilometres for their source of water.
Mr Najohnbo stated that their children are not left out in this challenges as they had to trek to either Manso or Dweneho, about two kilometres to access healthcare and education.
He added that a wooden structure constructed in 1994 currently serves as the only primary school for the community.
“Our kids had to trek several kilometres to Manso to attend school which come at cost to most parents.”
A 30-year old hairdresser, Rebecca Dibenpong, also appealed to authorities to come up with income generating activities to boost economic lives of the people.
She alleged that politicians often claimed they don’t have enough numbers to attract development, hence such initiatives were directed to bigger communities.
Like the name suggest, Nipahiamoa, the community needs urgent attention to make life meaningful for the people who contribute to the national economy by way of their farming activities.
From Daniel Dzirasah, Nipahiamoa
News
Maternal mortality rate increases in Ashanti Region
The Ghana Health Service has revealed a staggering statistic of 1,000 women losing their lives during childbirth in the Ashanti Region between 2020 and 2024.
This alarming number, according to the Regional Health Director, Dr Frank Adomanko Boateng, highlights the persistent challenge of maternal mortality in Ghana, despite efforts to improve maternal healthcare.
Dr Adomanko Boateng, therefore emphasized on an urgent need for stronger interventions to curb the high rate of maternal deaths.
Speaking at the 2024 Regional Health Forum, he indicated that “Ghana is struggling to meet the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target of reducing maternal mortality to 70 deaths per 100,000 live births by 2030.”
Dr Boateng stressed that time was of the essence, saying, “The clock is ticking, and we must double our efforts.”
He called for intensified measures over the next six years to bridge the gap and prevent further loss of lives.
Ghana’s maternal mortality ratio, he noted, has been declining from 760 deaths per 100,000 live births in 1990 to 310 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2017.
However, “the country still faces significant challenges in reducing maternal mortality, particularly in regions like Ashanti.”
To address the issue, he said, Ghana has been working to improve maternal healthcare through various initiatives, including the Network for Improving Quality of Care for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health.
The country aims to reduce maternal mortality by strengthening healthcare systems, improving access to quality care, and enhancing community engagement
From Kingsley E. Hope,
Kumasi
