The vice-president, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has called on the clergy in Ghana to make a conscious effort to use the pulpits to preach the message of peace and unity to their congregations.
“I wish to urge the leadership of all religious bodies to use the pulpit to propagate the message of peace and unity to stress the need to maintain the oneness and peace the nation continues to enjoy despite our challenges,” Bawumia said, as he addressed the Adabraka Official Town congregation of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana on Sunday 22 August 2021.
“Christians owe it as a duty to uplift the sense of responsibility in the country as well as help fight pockets of corruption and impunity. Sincere Christians can do this by strengthening democracy and speaking out,” said Dr Bawumia in his address as the special guest of honour at a service to celebrate the 30th anniversary in ministry of Reverend Kwadwo Owusu Sarpong, the Presbyterian district minister for Adabraka Official Town.
“May we continue to live in peace and harmony as one people with one common destiny. We have no other nation but Ghana, so let us protect it,” he said.
Eulogy of celebrant
In his eulogy of Reverend Kwadwo Owusu Sarpong, the vice-president congratulated the minister of the gospel. He noted that Sarpong’s rich profile speaks to him continuing to be a blessing to his family, the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, the nation Ghana and the world.
“Ghana needs your rich knowledge and experience in the area of development and social services at the local, regional and national levels. Your professional competence will serve our people well.
“Like the apostles of old, the Church and society needs wise men like you because, for 30 years, you have kept your ears to God’s wisdom post.”
“I implore you to let your voice be heard in the national discourse. The nation needs independent voices like yours. Be assured that you are on the side of God and that He will keep you and watch over you,” Dr Bawumia said.
National Cathedral
On the ongoing construction of the National Cathedral, the vice-president made a passionate appeal to the congregation to contribute to ensure that the project is completed. He said the National Cathedral will be a national monument and not the property of any individual in the country.
“It is very important that we build that cathedral. It is a voluntary exercise. Anyone who wants to contribute can contribute.
“I have contributed and I will continue to contribute some more, so I encourage everybody to think about it and let us build it. It is not for anybody: it is for Ghana and for the glory of God,” Dr Bawumia said.
Request for gerontology department
In thank you remarks at the service, the celebrant and district minister for the Adabraka Official Town congregation, Reverend Kwadwo Owusu Sarpong, appealed to the government to consider establishing gerontology departments at all public hospitals to provide special care for the aged in Ghana.
He noted that gerontology (which is the study of the physical development of older people, as well as the mental, social and societal implications of ageing) as a medical field has had very little attention in Ghana and needs urgent attention.
Reverend Owusu Sarpong also told congregants that his personal difficulties and experience of challenges in obtaining a secondary education in Ghana have made him an “unrepentant supporter” of the Free Senior High School policy of the Akufo-Addo-Bawumia government.
Wilberforce Asare
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