May the personal sacrifices that were made during the holy month of Ramadan be enough to grant us the purity of hearts, the peace, and oneness that bind us together as one Nation with one people and one destiny.
Happy Eid-ul Fatir!!!
From Hon Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu to all Muslims
THE EXECUTIVE Director of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Dr. Henry Kwabena Kokofu, has urged Muslims in Ghana and across the world to use this year’s Eid Celebrations to foster peace and unity.
The EPA Boss said without peace and unity, the pursuant of development will be a mirage, stressing that the Muslim community have a major role to play in ensuring the consolidation of peace and unity.
Whilst congratulating Muslims for a successful spiritual journey having gone through 29 days of Fasting and Prayers, Dr. Kwabena Kokofu, who has been praised for his outstanding performance at the EPA, noted that Ghana has high prospect under the current leadership to achieve socio-economic development for its citizens and therefore appealed to Ghanaians to rally behind the President and his administration to achieve the vision of transforming the country.
“As you celebrate your Festivities today, it is my wish that you will use the occasion to re-dedicate yourselves to peace and unity, and also seek spiritual intervention for the leadership of this country as we navigate through the current economic challenges ” the EPA Boss noted.
He also commended the Vice President, His Excellency Dr. Alhaji Mahamadu Bawumia and the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Usman Nuhu Sharabutu for their sterling their leaderships in fostering peace amongst the Muslims and Christian Community in the county.
Muslims across the world commenced the celebration of Eid il Fitr, the festival to mark the end of 29/30 days of Fasting.
A Private Legal Practitioner,
Lawyer Vida Agyekum Acheampong, has advised Ghanaians especially muslims to rally behind the ruling party(NPP) in order to win the 2024 general elections.
According to her, the party’s desire to break the eight, can not be achieved if muslims nationwide decide to vote against the party.
Lawyer Mrs Vida Acheampong, gave the advice today when she presented assorted cooking oil, rice and undisclosed cash to the muslim community in the Bortiano Ngleshi Amafrom constituency as part of the Eid Mubarak celebration.
She disclosed that government’s policies such as Free Senior High School has assisted many Ghanaians particularly muslim students to attain second cycle education.
According to her, majority of such children would have become dropouts if the Nana Addo administration had failed to implement it .
She disclosed that the National Health Insurance Scheme, which was introduced by the Kufuor administration, has proven to be beneficial to majority of Ghanaians.
According to her, the opposition National Democratic Congress( NDC) has never introduced a single pro-poor or social intervention policy to better the lives of ordinary Ghanaians especially Muslims.
Mrs Acheampong therefore urged Ghanaians to vote massively for the ruling party since the Former President, John Dramani Mahama, has nothing to offer Ghanaians.
ASHANTI REGIONAL NASARA WING
I have observed with utter shock and dismay, news going round on social media and mainstream media that Hon. Alan kyerematen donated 235 bags of food items to the Nasara wing of the party.
I will like to state for the avoidance of any doubt or contradiction that, the statement is a total falsehood.
It beats any reasonable mind why the campaign team of Hon Alan Kyerematen will indulge in such a misdeed.
The Ashanti regional Nasara wing do not take this lightly and view the action of Hon Alan kyerematen and the campaign team a gross disrespect to the nasara wing of the party in it entirety and an affront to the party. The party has its structures and it is expected that whoever is interested in leading the party will respect the structires of the party.
For the avoidance of any doubt, none of the 47 constituency Nasara coordinators nor their deputies have confirmed receipt of any such donation from Hon.Alan Kyerematen nor his assigns.
I will like to state very strongly that, a team of people wanting to lead a political party like the NPP should not engage in such an illegality and will therefore call on the Hon. Alan Kyerematen and his team to retract and sincerely apologize to the 96 nasara coordinators of the Ashanti region with alacrity.
Sgn
Alhaji Saalim Bamba
Ashanti regional Nasara Coordinator
Presidential Candidate hopeful Hon. Alan Kyerematen has joined the Muslim community in a solem prayer session (Iftar) programme at Ayawaso West Wougon in Accra.
The former Trade and Industry Minister, who resides in Ayawaso West Wuogon constituency joined the Muslim community and office of the National Chief to break their fast on Wednesday, April 19, 2023.
He was joined by top ranking officials of his campaign team at the Iftar and used the program to preach for religious coexistence and love for each other.
The Chief Imam was represented by Alhaji Abdul Lateef and Imam Muktari Abbass both senior officials of the Office of the Chief Imam .
Speaking at the gathering, Hon. Alan Kyerematen called on the Muslim community to keep their love for each other and extend it to other religious faiths within the country.
He urged the youth to see the sacred month of Ramadan as a cleansing month and keep their good behaviour even after the fasting period.
The former Trade and Industry Minister is reportedly in the lead as New Patriotic Party heads to the National Presidential Primaries slated for November 2023.
Archbishop Emeritus Akwasi Akwasi Sarpong displaying his traditional dancing skills
The Minister for Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Stephen Asamoah Boateng has reached out to Traditional Authorities in Bawku to explore ways of solving the Chieftaincy dispute there.
In a meeting with the Overlord and Elders of the Kusauk Traditional Area, Hon. Asamoah Boateng assured the Chiefs and people of government’s support to use Constitutional Provisions to address the Bawku debacle.
He also assured them of Government’s commitment to law and order in the area which he said is non negotiable.
“The number one job of any government is to maintain law and order…It’s the State’s responsibility to protect you. And that I can assure you that law and order is always at the heart of government.”
“The Rule of Law I can assure you, is our belief and we will pursue it and make sure people are abiding by it and people are happy, so that we can all live peacefully.” He said.
This is Hon. Asamoah Boateng’s first visit as Minister of Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs to the area since he assumed office in March 2023.
Vision
The Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs Minister has taken note of a backlog of Chieftaincy disputes across the country, a challenge he gladly accepts to enhance peace and tranquility in in any such area.
The Bawku Conflict has been one of the most notable conflict zones in the country hence the Minister first paid them a pleasant visit.
Background
The Bawku conflict which arose from a Chieftaincy dispute in the area decades ago has led to the loss of several lives and greatly impeded development in the area.
This is due to the retrogression of education, health care delivery and economic activities.
Hon. Asamoah Boateng who has high hopes of resolving the age-old dispute appealed for support from the disputants and pledged to even go behind the curtain should the need arise.
“I know that sometimes we have to go behind the scenes and that’s what I assure you. I will go behind the scenes, we will do a private chat and we will draw a road map”. He stated.
Difficulties
He admitted that there would be difficulties along the way but also expressed hope of compromises too.
“I know the core values would be protected so that you don’t compromise too much too. So that at the end of it, there would be peace, lasting peace”. He noted amid a rapturous applause from the people.
Appreciation
Overlord of the Kusauk Traditional Area, Naba Asigri Abugrago Azoka II expressed appreciation to the Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs Minister for the visit and attempts to help find lasting peace in the area.
Naaba Azoka II urged that State to enforce the law to the latter.
The Presiding Elder of the Bompata District of the Pentecost International Worship Center (PIWC), Dr Michael Owusu says the death and resurrection of Christ Jesus presents us with hope of a better future.
Speaking to the media at the end of the church’s four day Easter Convention named “He is Risen”, Dr Owusu noted that just as Christ Jesus was buried, Ghanaians may be going through difficult times.
However, he stated that just as Christ Jesus resurrected having been dead and buried for three days, Ghanaians would see good days if their trust is in Jesus.
“We are in trying times and things are difficult across the world but those of us whose faith is in Christ Jesus have hope of a good future and surely God will bless the work of our hands”, the Presiding Elder noted.
Details:
Giving details of the Easter Convention by the Church, Dr Owusu said the PIWC members on Thursday gathered for prayer and fellowship.
On Friday, he noted that the members had a Good Friday Service and thanked God for the sacrifice of Christ Jesus on the cross of Calvary.
He noted that on Saturday members of the Bompata District reached out to the community they reside and other adjoining ones with Evangelism where many received the word of the Lord.
“This morning the joy you are seeing on the faces of PIWC members is as a result of the death and resurrection of Christ and his enabling power for us to testify to others about his saving power”, the Presiding Elder stated.
Dr Michael Owusu, Presiding Elder of PIWC, Bompata District.
Sermon:
Preaching the Sermon later at the climax at the Convention, Resident Pastor at PIWC Bompata District, Pastor Joshua Kwabena Donkor urged Christians to drink from the deeper truths from the Word of God.
He called on the congregation to totally rely on what God says and to faithfully work with the knowledge they have about Christ.
Pastor Donkor said it was not enough for church members to commend preachers for rightfully dividing the word of truth on the pulpit but to totally obey God.
“Many times people would be praising the word from preachers on the pulpit while they themselves do not take the word seriously to live by it but the power in the word of God should change us, mould us and make us the kind of people God wants”, the PIWC preacher urged.Story By Michael Ofosu-Afriyie, Kumasi
THIS MONTH OF APRIL IS A REDEMPTION MONTH AND MUST BRING THE BEST IN US GOING FORWARD, CPP NATIONAL YOUTH ORGANIZER
This Year’s Month of April is very Special and a Holy month and must bring the positivity in us.
I choose to call this Year’s month of April Redemption month in the sense that, we are seeing our Muslim brothers and sisters all over the world fast and pray to Allah to be merciful and pardon all our shortcomings to redeem us.
Likewise our brothers and sisters who are Christians all over the world, are observing the sufferings, particularly the crucifixion of Jesus Christ who according to the Bible endured all those pains so that his father (God), will forgive our shortcomings and redeem us too.
In Ghana and our traditional settings, families, cities, class mates, course mates, towns and tribes are holding Re-Unions and home coming programs to bring together people to Unite, forgive each other and to forge new alliances going forward.
Indeed this year’s April is a wonderful Month and a Redemptious one.
This is why we as people must change our old ways which are enemical to the progress of mother Ghana.
We must rekindle our sense of patriotism, our commitment to leave this country better than we found it.
Henceforth we must avoid corruption and treat any invitation to be corrupt with disdain.
Our leaders must listen to the suffering Ghanaian Youth and indulge in broader consultation by involving identifiable Youth groups in finding solutions to the numerous problems that corrupt the Youth particularly Unemployment.
As both Christians and Muslims wait outside the gates of Heaven, let us continue to live in peace and harmony as one people with one destiny and one common interest, leaving behind a better and prosperous Ghana than we found it.
Happy Easter everyone.
Signed
Comrade Osei Kofi Acquah
National Youth Organizer CPP
General Secretary Coalition of National Youth Organizers
Reverend Samuel Aduama, Head Pastor at the Apenkwa branch of Calvary Charismatic Center (CCC) has admonished drivers especially commercial vehicle drivers not to engage in over-speeding and other unhealthy practices on the road.
He noted that many people would be travelling to celebrate the upcoming Easter in their home towns and big cities across the country.
This, he said, presents the temptation to drivers who would want to hurry up and drop off passengers so they can come for others who may be in queue to undertake similar journeys.
Personalities for the upcoming Convention
Speaking to the media ahead of the church’s upcoming medical screening exercise on Saturday and an Easter Convention slated for the 3rd of April to the 7th, Pastor Aduama said it was important that drivers keep to responsible driving so that they could preserve their own lives and that of passengers they convey across.
‘’I want to take this opportunity to admonish drivers, especially commercial vehicle users, to drive responsibly as Easter approaches so that both their lives and that of passengers who patronize their services are preserved’’, the Minister of the Gospel appealed.
Some of the Medical conditions that would be screened at the exercise on Saturday
Details:
The CCC Preacher said the church has decided to conduct a free medical screening for members as well as persons living within Accra especially those in the Apenkwa community.
He noted that it was necessary for people to test to know their status medically, adding that the church was committed to the wholesome wellness of its congregation and others.
Pastor Aduama revealed that medical doctors and nurses would screen for almost all the medical conditions at Saturday’s screening exercise including blood sugar, blood pressure, hepatitis, HIV, dental and body mass index.
‘’As part of our commitment to the people of Apenkwa we will give space to the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) to register people on their scheme. We also urge church members and interested persons who would be coming for the screening to come with a prepared mind to donate blood to the blood bank to help save lives’’, Pastor Aduama revealed.
Upcoming Convention:
Touching on the church’s Easter convention, Pastor Sammy as the preacher is affectionately called said the General Overseer of CCC, Reverend Ransford Obeng would be ministering at the program which comes off from Monday to Friday.
Other speakers, he noted would be the resident Pastor for CCC main, Pastor Joshua Obeng as well as himself and Bishop Raymond Acquah also ministering.
The conference which is christened the Jesus Convention, according to Pastor Sammy promises to be a kind where God would grant impactful grace to all patrons.
‘’I see GOD planning to show and overwhelm us with his grace and favor for us to function and do exploits in our individual lives and collectively as our church and it is with this belief that I urge all in Accra to come and join us at this Jesus Conference to experience the visitation of the Lord Almighty’’, the Apenkwa CCC leader stated. Story By Michael Ofosu-Afriyie, Kumasi
