Right Reverend Bishop Daniel De-Graft Grace, Sekondi Diocesan Bishop of the Methodist Church, Ghana has lamented that the country was threading on a very dangerous path through love for money, wayward living and other such wrongful living which calls for renewal of the mind.
He noted that the wanton destruction of the environment and the seeming legalisation of wrong as well as the abominable practices in society hence the need for traditional leaders to stand up for the right values, attitudes and attributes that engendered real growth and development.
The Diocesan Bishop made the remark when addressing Christians at the inaugural ceremony of the Chiefs and Queen Mothers Association for the Sekondi Diocese of the Methodist Church of Ghana, to spur godly leadership and positive direction in society.
The Rt. Rev Bishop De-Graft described traditional leaders as an embodiment of wisdom, knowledge and rightful living and said the partnership between them and the church was to aid in the transformed lives of communities.
According to him, in the Methodist Church, chieftaincy was 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 pointed out that the partnership must also enhance the ministry of the Church in forming the morals and spiritual needs of communities adding, “It is impossible to rightly govern without God and the Bible.”
He, therefore, entreated the traditional leaders to first of all unite and have one common goal centered on the general wellbeing of the people saying, “When you go back…initiate the processes of unity, call the church whenever the need for the forward movement of the Western Region.”
The Very Reverend Isaac Kwamena Ghartey, Superintendent Minister of the Anaji Circuit of the Sekondi Diocese and the appointed Chaplain of the Association promised to encourage them to acknowledge the ‘King of Kings’ as their overlord and pay the necessary homage to Him and as well direct their followers after Christ.
The Association, he said would work to reverse negative trends and practices in their communities and the country as a whole.
“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 noted that God instituted the Chieftancy 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 and added they will bring all their colleagues together to realise this great vision of the church.
Nana Ama Sam II, Queen-mother of Enyan Nkodwo of Enyan Traditional Area and Patroness of the Methodist Guild at the Bethel Methodist said was happy about the move and said if they do the will of God, there will be no problems and the society will be peaceful.
She said education and reorientation of the youth on social values were critical to changing lives adding, “to the youths who say our time and advice are archaic…listen, our advice is superb and will shape you for good.”
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 growing social problems.
The inaugural ceremony was also used to raise the various flags of the Church to signify their autonomy from the British Church some sixty-one (61) years ago.
In Ghana, Chiefs and Queen Mothers have contributed significantly to the establishment and growth of the Church and as well as giving their properties and ultimately their lives to Christ.
