The youth among other things vandalized vehicles and properties belonging to the Church.

[contextly_sidebar id=”d8Wn9hsJOlss3j59C61GmR8LSj9rwCn8″]Rev. Father Joseph Savino Gyimah, after assessing the extent of damage caused, expressed his disappointment that the youth would carry out the attack on the Church building when he had lived with them peacefully over the years.

He told Citi News that, members of his congregation are living in fear following the attack on the Church, and the leadership has taken a decision to cancel its morning mass until calm returns to the area.

Seven of the Church’s glass windows and water supply system were destroyed as a result of the clash.

“We are very disappointed because ever since I came here 6 years ago, I have been friends with the Muslims especially with the chief, so if the Ashanti youth and Muslim youth are fighting, I don’t know the reason why they should attack my church, so I am very very disappointed,” Father Gyimah said.

About eight police officers have since been stationed at the Church premises to avert further attacks on the facility.

The Reverend Gyimah said the cost of the damage was estimated at GHS 7,000.

He said the Church leadership will meet with the leaders of the different faith groups in the area to find a way to prevent such incidents from recurring.

“What we are going to do as I have announced in the church, the church board will meet with the Ahwiaa traditional leader and we will meet the Muslim leaders and some of the youth to discuss the way forward in order to bring peace in the community,” he said.

‘4 arrested after clashes’

The Police arrested four suspects in connection with the violence on Saturday.

Two of the suspects were in possession of locally manufactured pistols, while the two others had machetes with them.

They are being kept in police custody to assist in further investigations.

What led to the clash?

Several properties including vehicles were vandalized due to a fierce battle between two youth groups.

Residents in the community were forced to lock themselves indoors as a result of the situation.

Reports say the disturbances started when the Asante youth prevented their counterparts from the Zongo community from partaking in the burial rites of an 18-year old girl by name, Esther Ampofowaa on Friday.

It is unclear who the deceased person is, and what exactly might have led to her burial rights being the cause of the violent clash.

Addressing journalists after meeting with chiefs from both sides of the community, the Deputy Ashanti Regional Police Commander, Fred Anim, said the police will find a lasting solution to the long-standing feud between the two factions.

Reports say the disturbances started when the Asante youth prevented their counterparts from the Zongo community from partaking in the burial rites of an 18-year old girl by name, Esther Ampofowaa on Friday.

It is unclear who the deceased person is, and what exactly might have led to her burial rites being the cause of the violent clash.

–

By: Hafiz Tijani & Farida Yusif/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post A/Region: Pastor condemns ‘attack’ on his church by feuding Ahwiaa youth appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The massively-attended service hosted by Rev. Dr. Ebenezer Markwei (an Arsenal fan) at the Living Streams International Church in Accra was held with members dressed in their Chelsea jerseys while a cake was cut to celebrate the Stamford Bridge title.

Despite the London-based club being thousands of miles away from Ghana, the Ghanaian fans of the club celebrated it gusto as the pastor preached the sermon under the theme ‘Learn to promote the success of others’.

The event which was heavily publicized by another famous pastor Rev. Azigiza Junior, who is an ardent Blues fan, saw supporters of some rival English sides also attending to hear the sermon.

Rev. Dr. Markwei told the title-starved fans of Arsenal and Manchester United who were in attendance that it is Godly to also celebrate the success of others.

“Fellowship with those who rejoice in your victory. They were 10th last year and we called them names thinking they can’t rise again but today here they are on top. With God nothing is impossible,” Rev. Markwei  said in his sermon.

The exploits of former Chelsea stars Michael Essien and Marcel Desailly – both Ghanaians – have drawn a huge following for Chelsea in the West African country.

This results in massive rivalry between supporters of various English sides in the country with Liverpool, Manchester United, Arsenal and Tottenham having huge followers while West Ham has a growing fanbase because of their Ghanaian midfielder Andre Ayew.

So when the poster emerged few weeks ago over the pending church service, many thought it was meant to poke fun at supporters of their rival clubs.

But the promise was delivered complete with the pomp and pageantry and the religiousness Ghanaians attach to every facet of life including football matches in the local leagues and international matches.

–

By: Rahman Osman/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Ghanaian church celebrates Chelsea’s Premier League success [Photos] appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

He said: “The church has a greater role to play in shaping the minds of the people and redirecting their efforts in transforming and building a nation that stands tall among other nations.”

He said the church also had a duty to help Ghanaians to cope with difficulties they may encounter in their daily lives as they stuck with their faith and beliefs.

President Akufo-Addo said this in a speech read on his behalf by Kofi Dzamesi, the Minister of Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, at the opening of the 60th Session of the Ministerial and General Council Meeting of the Christ Apostolic Church International (CACI) in Accra.

The five-day meeting, which forms a major part of the activities of the 100 years celebration of the Church, was on the theme: “100 Years of Impacting Our World through Pentecostalism,” and was to thank God for His faithfulness, providence and guidance.

President Akufo-Addo recounted the immense contributions made by the Church in Ghana’s developmental process and said: “As you celebrate your 100 years, we cherish the contributions you have made as a church to our national development.”

Apostle Dr. Stephen Ntow Amoani, the Chairman of the CACI, tasked the Government to find ways of absorbing those engaged in galamsey in order not to create unemployment spillovers and urged Ghanaians to support with resources to create jobs for the youth.

Apostle Dr Amoani said: “The reclamation of destroyed lands is also key if we want to win the fight against galamsey,” and urged the Government to sustain its resolve to nib the galamsey canker in the bud.

“We, as a church, support the President in that direction, and can assure him of our prayers in all other ways to end this menace,” he said.

Apostle Dr. Amoani said the destruction of river bodies and lands constituted unacceptable acts of indiscipline and perpetrators ought to be brought to book.

He called on ministers of the church and other religious bodies to use their pulpits to educate members on the effects of galamsey and the need to fight the canker.

“The galamsey menace is destroying our river and water bodies as well as large tracts of fertile agricultural lands… and our environment. This illegality must, indeed be checked and be fought from all angles to stop the nation wreckers and saboteurs, some of whom are disgracefully aiding foreigners to reap where they have not sown, from destroying our land.”

Apostle Dr Amoani appealed to politicians to think about the welfare of the citizenry instead of their personal gains because “if all Ghanaians will think of what they can do for this country and not what the country can do for them, we shall overcome our current socio-economic difficulties.”

He called on ministers of God to eschew monetizing the Word of God and avoid inordinate materialism and insatiable desire for power and money.

“Let us also re-examine our ways of life and ministry and rededicate ourselves to much more prayer and care for the flock,” he said.

Apostle Amoani expressed satisfaction about the CACI membership-drive that has hit 1,314,017 as well as the improvement in its finances.

He said the church was going to focus more on growth through evangelism, missionary work, and Christian education and strengthen its Prophetic Ministry which had been the bedrock of its faith.

Narrating the history of the CACI and Pentecostalism in Ghana, Apostle Amoani said Apostle Anim, the Founding Patriarch of the Church, learnt about divine healing from the Faith Tabernacle Church in Philadelphia, United States America, through a magazine; “The Sword of the Spirit”.

Apostle Anim then put his faith to work with his wife and his two daughters and formed a prayer group called True Faith Prayer Group in 1917.

Apostle Amoani said the dedicated work of Apostle Anim marked the springing up of many other churches notable amongst them being the Church of Pentecost which was founded by Reverend James Mckeon, who, upon his arrival in Ghana, joined Apostle Anim in 1937 to begin his missionary work.

Fraternal messages were read by representatives of the Ghana Pentecostal Council (GPC), the Church of Pentecost, the Assemblies of God and government appointees including Mr Samuel Atta Akyea, the Minister of Works and Housing.

On behalf of the GPC, Apostle Samuel Yaw Antwi said the Council had accepted to be part of the solution to the galamsey menace and charged the members to preach against it.

He asked the CACI leadership to re-position the church to continue playing its prophetic role in rebuilding the nation as Ghana marked her 60th Anniversary.

The meeting, which was attended by the clergy and the laity from Ghana and abroad, was the highest decision making body of the church held annually to formulate policies, take stock and chart a new course for the progress of the Church.

It is also an occasion to pay glowing tribute to the forebears, particularly Apostle Peter Newman Anim, the father of Pentecostalism in Ghana, who was one time a prayer partner of the first President of Ghana, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah.

–

Source: GNA

The post The church must play an active role in nation building – Nana Addo appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The ARS Church is one of the biggest churches to have emerged from the Volta Region, with its headquarters at Tadzewu; a once pagan community in the Ketu North District.

The founder of the church, Prophet Charles Kwabla Nutornti in subtle attempts to indoctrinate the Christian faith among followers of his fetish father, made Christianity to suit an African context by allowing members to worship the supreme God using the African culture.

Knowing that key elements of the Ewe culture is singing and drumming, he encouraged theophoric renditions of the local Agbadza songs in order to resonate with the people. In addition to the normal Christian sacraments, the church adopted typical Ewe practices including outdooring of twins, widowhood rites, installation of Chiefs, and protection of pregnancy and acquiring of spirit of one’s profession.

As a result, since its establishment around 1945, the church has grown with over 700 branches worldwide including countries like Canada, USA, England, Holland, France and many African Countries.

Unfortunately, the demise of the Founder in 1999, brought division in the church. This schism which is mainly due to struggle over leadership and money, has since affected the growth of the church.

In an attempt to consolidate the two opposing factions, their branches in Ho; Edem, Unity and Central Parishes, had a joint service on Easter Sunday.

The service according to the three congregations, is to send a signal to other branches in the world on the need to end the protracted divisions in the church.

The various pastors present, including Rev Mawutor Wovenu, Rev G.D. Gakpetor and Rev Agbeko Semiabe, took turns in their sermons to admonish the congregants on the need to allow unity and peaceful coexistence to duel among them for the spiritual growth of the church.

–

By: King Norbert Akpablie/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post ARS holds joint service to end years of division appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.