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Be pillars of truth and justice- President Akufo-Addo to The Methodist Church
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has called on the Methodist Church of Ghana to continue playing its crucial role in nation-building by being pillars of truth, justice, and righteousness.
Addressing the 13th Biennial/51st Annual Conference of the Methodist Church of Ghana at the Wesley Cathedral in Kumasi, the President emphasized the importance of Christian maturity and the Church’s responsibility to foster moral and social development in the country.
Speaking on the conference theme, “Discipleship: Growing into Christian Maturity,” President Akufo-Addo reflected on the significant contributions the Methodist Church has made to Ghana’s development, particularly in education, healthcare, and social welfare.
He said, “The Methodist Church has been a symbol of faith, education, and social service, contributing significantly to the nation’s progress,” he noted, urging the Church to continue its invaluable work.”
President Akufo-Addo highlighted the role of Christian discipleship in shaping a nation’s moral fabric. Drawing from biblical teachings, he pointed out that discipleship is not merely an individual pursuit but a communal one, where believers are called to support and encourage one another in their faith journey. He referenced Apostle Paul’s exhortation to the Ephesians, emphasizing the need for Christians to “grow in truth, love, and steadfastness in our faith.”
The President also stressed the importance of the Church’s prophetic voice in society, calling on it to speak out against injustice, corruption, and moral decay.
“Our advocacy should be rooted in biblical principles, aimed at promoting the common good,” he urged, adding that the Church must support policies and initiatives that align with God’s will for justice and peace.
This call to action was a clear reminder of the Church’s responsibility to uphold moral standards and be a guiding light for the nation.
In a pointed admonition, President Akufo-Addo addressed certain clergy members who have been predicting electoral violence and manipulation. He expressed disappointment in those who, instead of preaching peace and unity, have chosen to sow seeds of discord. “I am certain that the behaviour of the Ghanaian people and their government and public authorities will put to shame all the naysayers, all the Jeremiahs, including, unfortunately, some persons of the cloth,” he stated firmly.
The President’s remarks were a clear call to the Methodist Church to remain steadfast in its mission to promote peace and unity, especially in the lead-up to the 2024 elections.
He encouraged the Church to continue its efforts in nurturing disciples and contributing to nation-building, emphasizing the importance of godly leadership and spiritual guidance in governance.
“Let us strive to grow in our faith, develop Christ-like character, and live out the principles of the Kingdom of God in every aspect of our lives,” he urged, reminding the congregation of the Church’s rich heritage of faith and service in Ghana.
He also thanked the Methodist Church for its unwavering support to his government over the years and encouraged continued cooperation with his successor, Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, and his running mate, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh.
President Akufo-Addo’s address to the Methodist Church in Kumasi was not just a reflection on the past but a forward-looking call to action.
As Ghana approaches a pivotal moment in its democratic journey, the President’s words serve as both a reminder and a challenge to the Church to continue being a beacon of hope, truth, and justice in the nation.
The conference, attended by a host of clergy, dignitaries, and congregants, served as a significant platform for discussing the role of the Church in Ghana’s socio-political landscape, particularly in these crucial election times.
News
Swallowed by the Sea! …Keta’s coastal lines, landmarks, efforts to preserve heritage
The Atlantic Ocean is no longer a distant blue horizon for the people of Keta.
It now circles around their doorsteps, uninvited, unrelenting, pulling down walls and other structures, erasing memories, and threatening lives.
Hovering precariously between the restless sea and the Keta Lagoon, this once-thriving coastal town is slowly being obliterated.
Salt water has become both a physical and metaphorical threat, dissolving the town’s past as fast as it claims its future.
Madam Aku Atitso, 62, lives in a crumbling former Prisons Service quarters – one of the few structures still standing on the eroded stretch of Queen Street.
She sits quietly at the entrance, preparing a modest breakfast for herself and her granddaughter.
The air is thick with salt and silence. “The sea took everything,” she says softly. “My husband’s nets, our mattress, our memories all gone overnight.” Her voice trembles. “This place too is dying. But it’s the last place with a roof over my head.”
A few metres away, Aunty Esinam, 79, watches the sea from a low stool beside a wooden shelter. Her eyes do not blink. “That spot,” she points, “used to be someone’s living room, a whole family lived there”.
It’s not just homes that are vanishing. Landmarks that anchored Keta’s cultural identity are disappearing one after another. The once-imposing Fort Prinzenstein, a haunting relic of the transatlantic slave trade is now more of a ruin than a monument.
the encroaching waters along Keta’s
coast.
encroaching waters along Keta’s coast
The colonial-era Bremen factory, the old cinema where generations of children once laughed at flickering black-and-white films is also gone.
Queen Street, once the town’s bustling backbone, is now a watery corridor choked with debris.
Standing atop a section of the sea defence wall, 69-year-old retired teacher Efo Kwasi Agbeko surveys what remains.
“The first police station is mostly gone,” he says, gesturing part of the building stuck in the sea sand, only ruins and a few rooms remain.
“This town is fighting, but the sea is winning,” he said.
Even the Cape St. Paul Lighthouse, Keta’s historic sentinel, leans perilously toward the water, and fishermen say holes in the shore are opening more frequently, sometimes every week.
That leaves a thick cloud of uncertainty hanging around the historic town of Keta.
Once upon a time, it was a vibrant town noted for business but currently left with ruins with a few of the residents watching in awe the sea’s devastation.
From: Geoffrey Kwame Buta, Keta, Volta Region
News
Ghanaians climax Easter with fun-filled activities
Christians around the world and other faith based groups last Monday climaxed the Easter celebration with a number of fun-filled outdoor and indoor activities.
With streets empty, fun seekers stormed church premises where picnics were held while others partied in many ways.
Others spent the day at the various beaches and music and film shows occupying the others.
velleyball competition
at the Laboma Beach
Church in Tema Community 8 engaged
in a number of activities including the
popular draught competition
At the churches, participants engaged in bible reading, football, volleyball, playing cards, table tennis, horse racing, bouncing castles, swimming and oware.
one of the picnic venues
Others played ludo, tag of war, lime and spoon, draught, music competitions among others.
The Spectator captured some of the exciting scenes around Accra-Tema for the benefit of readers.
Story & pictures by Victor A. Buxton
