By Rachel Kakraba
Ghanaians have been encouraged not to lose the essence of giving during Christmas. They have also been asked to live Christ-like lives to bring peace to the world.
Speaking at a carols service and graduation ceremony of the St. Mark Methodist Primary and JHS in Accra, an educationist and wife of the resident minister of the St. Mark Methodist Church, Dr. Doris Yalley, said Christians must be moderate during the Christmas festivities as over excitement has the tendency to over shadow the meaning of the celebration.
“If you accept Jesus Christ, the saviour of the world, as God’s gift to mankind, that’s all there is to Christmas. Our celebration, our enjoyment, the parties that we will go to, and all that should be focused on Jesus Christ.”
The carol service, which is an annual event on the school’s calendar, has been absent for two years owing to COVID-19 restrictions. It was therefore an exciting moment as students, parents, and religious leaders converged on the school’s assembly hall for the event. Amidst scripture readings and the singing of carols by the school’s choir, patrons had an exciting time.
Dr. Doris Yalley, who was also the special guest of honour encouraged Christians to be generous during the festivities and give selflessly, especially to the vulnerable and needy in society. She said the festivities must be an opportunity for all to rejuvenate for the new year.
“I will encourage parents to ensure to create a serene environment for your children to be able to study so that they will have the peace of Christ and excel.”
Circuit Supervisor of Okaikoi Constituency, Mrs. Olivia Ayeh, said as future leaders of the country, children must depend on God in all endeavours.
“To be successful in academics as children, for us to be successful in all that we do in all our endeavours, we must seek Christ alone as our anchor. Why should we seek Christ alone as our anchor because he is the only reliable one who can give us strong support and hope and we will never be disappointed.”
She said regardless of current economic challenges, Christians must reach out to the less privileged in society during the Yuletide.
“Although we are living in very challenging times let your anchor hold and be grateful for what you have. Spend time with your families and friends and also share the little you have with the poor that’s all about Christmas. We are not saying you should have in abundance before you give out, even if it’s one cedi, give 20 pesewas. Sometimes we see these children on the streets and it saddens my heart when we parents are celebrating Christmas with our children and we neglect them. Let’s not forget orphans and the vulnerable in society and God will bring his blessings on us.”
Headmaster of the school, David Ashong, said the school has contributed to the human resource development of the country as it focuses not only on academics but inculcates in the students good morals.
“A lot of great students have passed through this school. It’s not just academics but moral and discipline that we imbibe in the students. The people in the community know this, and they bring their children here.”
He appealed to well-meaning Ghanaians to support the school’s library with books.
“As I’m talking to you now we have our ultra-modern library, everything is set over there except we are left with books. Though we are getting support from the church and other individuals we are still having the challenge of getting the required numbers, so I’m using this opportunity to reach out to the entire world to come to our aid. This library will not only serve the school but the community as a whole. We also have our ICT laboratory, our projection is that we will have about fifty computers in the lab, but the computers are not up to it so we are seeking assistance in that angle.
Mr. Ashong noted that although the government has been supporting the school, more of such assistance will be required, especially private mission schools in order for them to continue to deliver quality education to Ghanaian children.
“What we are fighting for is government supporting the private mission schools, we cannot do it all.”
38 pupils graduated from kindergarten to primary one. Some students who excelled at a recently held inter-school competition were honoured for their academic excellence.