By Edward Dankwah
Accra, Aug 12, GNA – The Apostolic Fathers, the Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council (GPCC) and the Church of Pentecost (COP) have laid their wreath in memory of the victims of the recent military helicopter crash.
The ceremony, held at the entrance of the Jubilee House, honored the lives of the officers and crew who tragically lost their lives during a national assignment at Adansi Akrofrom, in the Ashanti Region of Ghana.
A delegation from the Apostolic Fathers, GPCC, COP and the Christian Council also paid a visit to President John Dramani Mahama, to console him of the recent national tragedy, and offered prayers and words of comfort to him as well.
The victims included Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, Minister for Defence, Dr. Alhaji Murtala Muhammed, the Minister for Environment, Science and Technology, and Alhaji Muniru Mohammed, Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator.
The rest were Dr. Samuel Sarpong, Vice Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr. Samuel Aboagye, Former Parliamentary Candidate, Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala, Flying Officer Manin Twum-Ampadu and Seargent. Ernest Addo Mensah.
Apostle General Sam Korankye Ankrah, the head of delegation, Apostolic Fathers, called on Ghanaians to submit to the will of God, have a sober reflection, use this occasion in the remembrance of their memory, come together as one and pursue the development of the nation.
He also called on all stakeholders and all nationals to continue the fight against Galamsey, in honor of these fallen heroes, adding that, “if we don’t do that, we have done a disservice to their memory.”
“For the bereaved family, they have sown a seed of faith and God is the reward. God will give them more than what they have sown to him, because he’s able to give and to do exceedingly above what we think and what we ask, according to the power that works in us,” he stressed.
Apostle Ankrah said the Apostolic Fathers were worried about the trend of Prophetism and the manner in which it was handled in Ghana, and that going forward it should be characterised by the biblical blueprint in the way and manner in which God’s work was done.
Mr. Godwin Kisseih, First Vice President, GPCC, encouraged Ghanaians to hold each other’s hands in such a time because it was not a time for finger pointing or fault finding.
He said: “To the bereaved families, you’ve lost very dear individuals that we can’t replace, but be assured that God is still God. He will strengthen you. This is also a storm that will pass, God’s name will be glorified.”
“God doesn’t love those who didn’t join that flight more than those who went. The love of God is unconditional however, this is a chance for us to draw closer to God, so we want to say that the world is not in chaos, Ghana is not in flames, God still loves Ghana,” he added.
Mr. Samuel Gyau Obuobi, General Secretary, Church of Pentecost, said this was a deeply difficult period, however, as people of faith, we draw strength from the Scriptures, which reminded us that we are a people of hope.
“We know that our God lives, and therefore, we take comfort in the assurance that death is not the end, especially for those who die in the Lord. Such individuals are not lost; they have gone ahead of us to rest. And we hold firmly to the promise that, on the last day, we shall rise again,” he added.
Mr. Obuobi encouraged President Mahama, Parliament, and the Government to be strong in times like this, so as to be able to remain focused on the governance of the nation.
He stressed that lessons must be learnt out of this tragic incident, with the resolve that this should not happen again because lives should not be lost in the fight against Galamsey.
GNA
Kenneth Odeng Adade