Sekondi, July 29, GNA – The Sekondi Diocese of the Methodist Church of Ghana, has inaugurated the Chiefs and Queen-mothers Association to spur Godly leadership and positive direction in the church and in society at large
The Right Reverend Bishop Daniel De-Graft Brace, the Diocesan Bishop, described traditional leaders as embodiment of wisdom, knowledge and rightful living and that the partnership between them and the church was to aid in the transformed lives of communities.
He said the country was threading on a dangerous path through the love for money, wayward living and other such wrongful living, which called for renewal of mind…”As traditional leaders, you can help in many ways to right the wrongs and we trust that the Lord will help.”
The inaugural ceremony was also used to raise the various flags of the Church to signify their autonomy from the British Church some 61 years ago.
In Ghana, traditional leaders have contributed significantly to the establishment and growth of the Church as well as giving their property for church related activities, while serving God by giving their lives to Christ.
The Diocesan Bishop noted the wanton destruction of the environment and seeming legalization of wrong and abominable practices in society and called for the need for the traditional leaders to stand up for the rights values, attitude and attributes that engendered real growth and development.
The Association is made up of traditional leaders who are also members of the Methodist faith across the Western region and the hope was that their coming together could halt the growing social problems.
Bishop De-Graft Brace said, “to the Methodist Church, chieftaincy is an arm of the Church, essentially as a special ministry created by God and a conduit through, which the transformed lives must be unveiled.”
He stated that the partnership must also enhance the ministry of the church in forming morals and spiritual needs of communities adding, “It is impossible to rightly govern without God and the Bible.”
The Bishop, therefore entreated the traditional leaders to first unite and have one common goal centered on the general wellbeing of the people…”When you go back…initiate the processes of unity…call the Church whenever there is the need for forward move of the Western region”.
The Very Reverend Isaac Kwamena Ghartey, the Superintendent Minister of the Anaji Circuit of the Sekondi Diocese and the appointed Chaplain of the Association, said as part of his role, he would encourage the traditional leaders to acknowledge the “King of kings as their overlord” and pay the necessary homage to Him and as well as direct their followers after Christ.
The Association would work to reverse negative trends and practices in their communities and the country.
“We will also need them to stick to the good traditional practices that promoted peaceful coexistence and rightful living as instruments of development”, he added.
Nana Toffa III, the Chief of Seremamu, Princess Town and a worshiper at the Saint Paul’s Methodist Aboadze Circuit, acknowledged that God instituted the Chieftaincy institutions and prayed that together in unity, the traditional leaders would come together to initiate programmes and projects, set good agenda for society and even the Government to follow.
He described the formation of the Association as a great recognition by the Church to the Traditional authorities adding, “we will bring all our brethren together to realise this great vision of the Church.”
Nana Ama Sam II, Queenmother of Enyan Nkodwo of Enyan Traditional Area and Patroness of Methodist Guild, Bethel Methodist, said “Am so glad today…if we do the will of God, there will be no problems and society will be peaceful.”
She advised the youth to listen to the advice of the elderly and not to assume they are archaic, saying our advice is superb and will shape you for good.”
GNA