News
Do you thank God in all circumstances?
Though the Holy Bible enjoins us to give thanks to God in all circumstances, there are occasions when we momentarily lose track of this fact, get confused and completely become miserable.
We are never challenged in life when everything is going on smoothly and things seem to be in their right perspective.
Death is inevitable though, but the death of a parent, child, siblings, close relatives, acquaintances and colleagues among other misfortunes, set our minds to question or doubt the sort of love the omnipotent God has for us.
In such circumstances, we consider death or whichever calamity as unkind, very wicked and impatient. God is also viewed in such circumstances as insensitive to allow calamity or misfortune to befall us.
When a sick person dies suddenly, God could be saving the deceased from excruciating pains, the bereaved family from shock and spending money which would eventually not restore the health of the sick person.
Calvary
Before he ascended the cross on Calvary which had brought salvation to the world, Jesus became sorrowful when he prayed fervently to God to let the cup pass by him. ” Having prayed thus, he quickly concluded that his father’s will should be done, but not his under the circumstance.”
In another vein he prayed, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Matthew 27:46.
Though Jesus was in such a state, God’s love and his spirit did not depart from him. ” Behold l am with you, even till the end of time.” This phrase should serve as a reminder to all that God’s love shall never depart from us irrespective of our sinful state.
Lazarus
Our attention should be drawn towards Martha and Mary in the Bible about the death of Lazarus. One can envisage the agony, pain and uncontrollable wailing the two sisters and their relatives might have endured during the period.
To them all hope was lost on account of the death of Lazarus. Additionally, varied thoughts might have passed through their minds, giving way to a state of hopelessness and mistrust.
Bartimaeus
Imagine you were Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, and in another instance a man who became blind from birth. Until their miraculous healing by Jesus, one can envisage the thoughts which might have passed through their minds all these years.
They might have viewed God in a different light, questioned God’s saving power and His love for them. Why has God made them like that, while others enjoy the best conditions in life ?
Can one envisage the ecstatic joy that might have filled the two blind men at the time they received healing variously from Jesus?
Joseph
Another example in the Bible which reminds Christians to give thanks to God in all circumstances is the decision by the children of Jacob to throw Joseph their brother into a well, ostensibly to sell him into slavery.
Unknown to his siblings, God’s saving hands were heavily on Joseph as he had designed a unique task for Joseph which would invariably help many people including their family.
Under such trying moments, Joseph might have lived in a state of confusion and prepared to doubt when the saving hands of God would reach him, if at all.
God allows certain things to happen to us for a purpose and we are surprised as to why misfortunes should happen to us.
Zachariah
When Zachariah, the priest became deaf and dumb, how did he feel about God’s love, care and forgiveness?
Zachariah might have grumbled about how unfair God was to strike him deaf and dumb.
Life is more precious than any treasure we can possess on earth. Irrespective of the misfortune that has befallen us, do we pause to say, ” Thank you God for sustaining our lives?”
In every situation, we must give thanks to God, for we do not know what God has in store for us.
Get yourselves prepared always and let us get inclined towards receiving whatever comes our way.
We ought to know that no matter the ordeal we have to encounter, God is still the same unchanged Supreme Being who has plans for our progress in life, giving us the reason to be grateful to Him at all times.
By Raymond Kyekye
News
National Service Authority goes cashless
The National Service Authority (NSA) has announced a mandatory transition to a cashless payment system.
This initiative aligns with the government’s drive to modernize revenue collection.
In a statement, NSA noted that effective immediately, all user agencies and stakeholders are directed to make all payments,
including the 20% and 10% administrative service charges, through the GHANA.GOV platform.
This shift to digital payments offers greater transparency, convenience and accessibility for those working with the NSA.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
Read the full statement below
News
Greater Accra Regional Minister calls on traders to operate within designated spaces to ease congestion
The Greater Accra Regional Minister, Linda Obenewaa Akweley Ocloo, has called on traders in the city to operate within designated spaces to ease congestion and maintain cleanliness in market centres.
Speaking with traders at the Kaneshie Market on February 4, 2025, during a tour of selected market centres to assess sanitation challenges, reinforce government commitment to address indiscriminate refuse disposal, and improve market conditions, the minister called for collaboration between traders and local authorities to address sanitation and maintain order.
She assured the new government’s commitment to addressing urban challenges and improving market conditions in Accra as part of its broader agenda for a cleaner city.
“We are here to engage you in a conversation about our mission to improve cleanliness in Greater Accra. We are taking into account the conditions of the roads, your problems, and your suggestions. Most walkways have been taken over by traders instead of serving their original purpose, which leads to traffic congestion. We want to understand your challenges so that we can find the best way to assist you,” the Minister stated.
The Minister who was accompanied by officials from the Greater Accra Regional Coordinating Council ( GARCC) led by the Chief Director of the GARCC, Mrs. Lilian Baeka, some staff from the Accra Metropolitan Assembly(AMA) and other sister assemblies in the Region used the opportunity to enquire about the state of waste disposal within the market and the efficiency of refuse collection by the assemblies.
“Does it take long for the refuse to be collected after it is gathered? These are some of the issues we want to address,” she added, inviting traders to share their thoughts.
The President of the Greater Accra Markets Association, Mrs. Mercy Naa Afrowa Needjan who welcomed the minister, expressed gratitude for the visit and assured traders commitment to rally support behind her as a woman in leadership.
”In the market, we face numerous challenges we wish to discuss. There are various groups of traders with some selling at the top, others beneath, while some can be relocated, others should be removed. However, we must follow due process to ensure that people’s livelihoods are not affected. She cannot do it alone, and we are ready to support her efforts,” she stated.
She noted that efforts to regulate trading activities, especially on the Kaneshie overhead footbridge, had proven difficult despite continuous engagements with the police.
Madam Mercy Naa Afrowa Needjan identified street trading as a major concern, explaining that it had significantly affected business inside the main markets.
“Our major problem is those selling outside. Because of them, the market is now dry. Almost everyone has moved onto the streets. They are our brothers and sisters, and we want them inside the market. There are a lot of vacant spaces they can occupy,” she said.
On sanitation, she remarked that significant progress had been made, stressing that previously, the Kaneshie market was associated with rubbish, but the story had changed for good.
