By Patrick Ofoe Nudzi, GNA
Accra, Sept. 2, GNA – Very Rev Prof Joseph Obiri Yeboah Mante has assumed office as Chancellor of the Akrofi-Christaller Institute of Theology, Mission and Culture (ACI), pledging to support its growth, financial sustainability and global visibility.
He succeeds Prof Ablade Glover and will serve an initial five-year term, renewable for another five years.
Speaking after his investiture as the Institute’s third Chancellor, Very Rev Prof Yeboah Mante said he would support efforts to increase enrolment and strengthen the Institute’s financial base.
He pledged to lead efforts to raise GHS2 million to establish an endowment fund to provide sustainable financial support for the training of ministers and theologians, adding that the fund would also help the Institute maintain its position as one of the leading theological institutions on the African continent.
Very Rev Prof Yeboah Mante described his appointment as an honour and said his responsibilities included serving as a global ambassador for the Institute and promoting its image wherever he went.
“I will do my best to be a good global ambassador for the Institute and support the Institute to continue to be one of the best theological institutions on this continent,” he said.
The investiture ceremony was held at the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Victory Congregation, Adentan-Frafraha, in Accra.
Rt Rev Dr Abraham N. O. Kwakye, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, in a sermon at the ceremony, urged Christians to embrace humility, obedience, sacrifice and service in their walk with Christ.
He said Christians, including those associated with the Akrofi-Christaller Institute, needed to recognise self-denial as part of Christian worship and support the new Chancellor.
“The pioneers of Akrofi-Christaller demonstrated sacrifice and we must know that Christ is the ultimate model of sacrifice. Christ, although divine, did not use His position for His own advantage. He humbled Himself, took the nature of a servant and became obedient even to death on the cross,” he said.
The Moderator said sacrifice did not always result in immediate reward, urging Christians not to abandon their commitment because their efforts were not promptly recognised.
He said God rewarded “at the right time” and “in God’s own time” and encouraged Christians to remain committed to their responsibilities.
Very Rev Prof Yeboah Mante was commissioned into the ministry of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana as a pastor 45 years ago, in June 1981.
He holds an MA in Religion, MPhil and PhD in Philosophy of Religion and Systematic Theology from Claremont, California, USA, obtained in 1994.
He is a member of the Central Committee of the World Council of Churches, headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, and a member of the African Eminent Clergy Group of the All Africa Conference of Churches, headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya.
He is also a former Chairman of the Christian Council.
The investiture was attended by members of the ACI Council and faculty, clergy, politicians, Justices of the Supreme Court, including former Chief Justice Justice Sophia Akuffo and Justice Prof Henrietta Mensa-Bonsu, as well as family, friends and well-wishers.
GNA
Edited by Kenneth Sackey