By Damian Avevor & Isaac Fritz Andoh
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One of the highlights of the Golden Jubilee Celebration, climaxing in a massive grand parade on March 6, Independence Day, at the Independence Square, was an inter-denominational Service at the Holy Spirit Cathedral in Accra.
The Service was attended by over 2,000 people, including Mrs. Theresa Kufuor, the First Lady, Mr. Hackman Owusu Agyemang, Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing, who represented President John Agyekum Kufuor, Mr. Francis Poku, Minister for National Security and Mr. Daniel Dugan, Deputy Minister of Fisheries.
It was organised by the National Catholic Secretariat and the Christian Council of Ghana.
The Cathedral was filled to capacity and additional seats were provided for the congregation, most of whom carried miniature Ghana flags to celebrate the Jubilee.
In singing praises, the congregation, mostly women, clad in bright colours, danced their hearts out.
The First Lady, a former Chorister at the Christ the King Parish in Accra, also joined heartily in the singing, waving her flag gently.
The well-organised service, the venue of which was changed at the last minute from the Forecourt of the State House to the Holy Spirit Cathedral due to unforseen circumstances, was described as “very successful.”
The host, Most. Rev. Charles Palmer-Buckle, Metropolitan Archbishop of Accra, received warm congratulations from many people after the service.
the Officiating Clergy at the Service included Rt. Rev. Yaw Frimpong Manso, Moderator, Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Rev. Dr. Paul Fynn, Chairman, Christian Council of Ghana, Rev. James Kofi Afelie, E.P. Church of Ghana, Most Rev. Robert Aboagye Mensah, Presiding Bishop, Methodist Church of Ghana and Rev. Dr. Fred Deegbe, General Secretary, Christian Council of Ghana.
The Scripture Readings were taken in English, Twi, Ga, Ewe and Gurune by the Salvation Army, Charismatic Independent Churches, Evangelical Lutheran Church, Christ Evangelical Mission and the National Catholic Secretariat respectively.
Prayers were also said to thank God for 50 years of nationhood and for deepening of democracy, peace and development.
Rev. Sr. Consolata Agyepong of the Handmaid of the Divine Redeemer (HDR), prayed for the future prosperity of the country.
In a sermon, Rev. Dr. Fynn commended Ghanaians for maintaining peace in the past fifty years and asked them tohelp develop the nation and speak against all injustices.
On behalf of the President, Mr. Hackman Owusu-Agyemang said it had always been a joy that the Church had always preached peace and togetherness, adding that it had played a pivotal role in the nation’s development.
He acknowledged the role Churches were playing in education towards national development.
The theme of the service was “The Role of the Church on Ghana’s Evolution and Development.”
The Independence Day parade on March 6 at the Independence Square was also voted a big success by many Ghanaians and foreign dignitaries.
The parade was witnessed by about 20 Heads of State and Governments, with Nigerian President Olushegun Obasanjo as the Special Guest of Honour.
President Kufuor told the large crowd that Ghana’s historic achievement on March 6, 1957 would remain integral with the destiny of the people for as long as the story of liberation was told and, therefore, the occasion should always be celebrated.
President Obasanjo paid glowing tribute to Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana’s First President, who ushered the nation to independence.
He commended Ghana for holding itself as a democratic and unified country.
Additional file by John Kumado
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