By: Jones Anlimah
President Akufo-Addo has joined the leadership and congregants of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church to climax its 175th Anniversary with a grand durbar at Peki Blengo in the South Dayi District of the Volta region.
Speaking at the durbar, President Akufo-Addo charged members of the Church to in pursuant to its declaration and mission support the government to bring about innovation renewal and transformation to the Ghanaian society.
Since its establishment in 1847 the Evangelical Presbyterian Church has espoused its mission of bringing light to where there is darkness by spreading its reach across the country to establish churches and educational institutions.
According to the church, one hundred and seventy-five years of ministerial experiences in sending light to where there is darkness have been associated with mixed lessons in achievements and challenges.
The grand durbar to mark the highlight of the 175th of the arrival of the Bremen Missionaries and the establishment of the church was attended by the Chiefs and People of the Peki Traditional Area, the leadership of the Church, Ministers of State with President Nana Akufo Addo as the guest of honour.
The theme for the 175th Anniversary was “A Journey of 175 years in ministry, achievements, challenges and the way forward”.
The Paramount Chief of Peki Traditional Area, Diega Kwadzo Dei said the Chiefs and people of the area take delight in playing a part in bringing God’s salvation and modern-day civilization to the country and the Peki Community in particular.
“We Pekis take great pride in the fact that the education programme of these missionaries produced a majority of teachers and catechists who went to open schools and promoted evangelism in the rest of Eweland. We are happy that the products of Evangelical Presbyterian Church have placed so much emphasis on expanding the parameters of education not only in Eweland but also far and wide to our brothers and sisters in what is now the Oti region and other regions of the Republic of Ghana.”
The Volta Regional Minister Dr. Archibald Letsa congratulated the Church and urged it to complement the government efforts by assisting in the provision of social services in the fields of education, health care and agriculture.
The Moderator of the General Assembly of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Rt Rev. Dr Lt Col Bliss Divine Agbeko, said plans are far advanced for the church to undertake major agricultural initiatives to help shore up food productivity in the country and called on government to assist them with farm inputs.
“I will humbly request the President to consider or be considering allowing the mergeance of our colleges of education into the university of education for charter and accreditation. We are still highly interested in agricultural works and will be appreciative to Governmnet to help us along the line of planting for Food and Jobs that we are supported with tractors and other agricultural implements to help our agricultural drive. The EP University, we want to specialise as an agric University where whatever you want to say or talk about agric, you will call the name EP University.” He noted.
President Akufo-Addo said the leadership of the church together with other stakeholders have made immense contributions towards peaceful resolutions in conflict areas in the country for which government appreciates. He commended the church for its 175th journey of faith in propagating the kingdom of God.
The President called for a behavioral change from Ghanaians and urged them to learn and display a sense of communal responsibility from early Christian communities and their forward attitudes which according to him will help build self-confidence and a prosperous Ghana.
“The houses were well laid out, they were clean and orderly. Those who lived there obeyed the rules and regulations of the community and there was a sense of communal responsibility. People generally believed in being each other’s keepers. They took great care and were protective of the environment. They planted trees, vegetables and flower gardens.
They were proponents of education the head, the hear and the hand. And even though they laid great emphasis on intellectual education they were equally prepared to work with their hands They were ……..I implore the Evangelical Presbyterian Church to act according to your declaration and mission and join us to bring about the innovation renewal and transformation of our society. I charge you to break new grounds in collaborating with the Government to find sustainable peace for the development of our country. And please pray for me and the government and above all, pray for Ghana.”
President Akufo-Addo made a donation of fifty thousand Ghana cedIs towards the Church’s anniversary celebrations.