By: Rachel Kakraba
Moderator of the General Assembly of the Evangelical Presbyterian (EP) Chr of the General Assembly of the Evangelical Presbyterian (EP) Church Ghana Rev. Lt Col Bliss Divine Kofi Agbeko has appealed to government to maintain and preserve national monuments as a heritage of the country.
He noted that edifices such as the Osu Castle, where early missionaries of the EP church first settled must be kept for posterity. Rev. Agbeko was speaking during a float to mark the 175th anniversary of the church. The float which commenced from the Blackstar Square to the Christianborg Castle or Osu Castle to Peki Blengo was a re-enactment of the church’s history.
Some church members who were adorned in beautiful traditional apparel danced to cultural tunes as the church marked the milestone. The Evangelical Presbyterian Church Ghana was founded by German missionaries on 14 November 1847 in Peki Blengo. This was after the first missionary Rev. Lawrence Wolf had first settled at the former Seat of government at the Osu Castle, before sojourning to Peki Blengo with the word of God.
Rev. Lt Col. Agbeko recalled the history of the church to an instrumentality of the Rev. Lawrence Wolf and the then chief of Peki and his son.
“The footsteps of the Rev. Lawrence Wolf exactly one hundred and seventy-five years ago. While he was waiting there, he was told that there’s a king of the people across the “Kr3pi” now called Peki that the son Nyankomago who come to do business and so Nyankomago was informed.
He also went to the father the king of Peki, and they told him there’s a Whiteman here who is seeking permission to come to do ministry”
It was all joy when members of the Church walked through the castle drive to the Osu Castle in remembrance of its history. Rev. Lt Col Agbeko was grateful to the membership of the church for their support which has contributed to the development of the church. He said the Osu Castle is constant reminder of the spreading of the word of God.
“We in celebrating 175 years, and we think it’s wise that we need to trace this route to this place, that we start the celebration from here. The Osu Castle sends memories of different sources to people.
To some, it reminds us of slavery. To the churches, it also reminds us of the missionary workers. We refuse to remember the evil effects of slavery but then we accept and give glory to God for the missionary work and I think that it will be necessary that state preserve this monument that serves as memory and historical record to us so that these monuments will also tell their stories as we observe or see them”
Rev. Lt Col Agbeko said the EP Church will continue to invest in the human resource development of the people.
He added that the church is leading a campaign for business investment which will sustain the work of God.
“We carry along the gospel, we carry along education, healthcare, agriculture and now we are also encouraging business investment to keep work of Ministry going on”
“Churches should also make sure that they take good care of mission houses and mission monuments and things that tell the story on their own we preserve them” Rev. Lt Col Agbeko, added.
The Kyidomhene of Osu Alata, Nii Adam Sorsey, called for closer collaboration between the church and traditional authorities. Prayers were said for the legislature, Executive and judiciary as well as the citizenry.
A grand durbar held at Peki Blengo EP School Park on Saturday, November 12, 2022, climaxed the celebration and was graced by President Akufo Addo. The 175th Anniversary is on the theme, a journey of 175 years in Ministry, achievements, challenges and the way forward”.