Ghanaian leaders asked to seek the people's welfare

Sunyani (B/A), Dec. 25, GNA - Most Reverend Dr. Matthew Kwasi Gyamfi, Catholic Bishop of Sunyani, on Friday called on Ghanaian leaders to avoid self-interest and seek the welfare of the people. He advised traditional leaders and politicians to avoid bitterness and rancour and unite for national development.

Most Rev. Gyamfi in a sermon at a Christmas day service at Christ the King Cathedral in Sunyani, said Christmas represented the gift of sacrifice God made to humankind through His son Jesus Christ for the restoration of Christians to their original status.

He asked Ghanaians to share "this precious gift of Jesus Christ" with one another through forgiveness, sacrifices and service to the society. Most Rev. Gyamfi said that "only when we give ourselves to others as Jesus did and teaches us to do, can we actualize the true peace and prosperity which we desperately need in our lives and the country". Right Rev Dr. Festus Yeboah Asuamah, Anglican Bishop of Sunyani, in a Christmas message delivered at the Sunyani Saint Anselm Anglican Cathedral, said the announcement of the birth of Jesus Christ, "the greatest event in history," was made to shepherds, who were considered insignificant and counted among the low class in the society.

Rt. Rev. Asuamah said the choice of the shepherds as recipients of the "good news" indicated that there was a place in the heart of God and in His Divine plan for the down-trodden and insignificant people in society. He asked Ghanaians to show love for the vulnerable, orphans, homeless and the down-trodden to give meaning to the celebration of Christmas. At the Wesley Methodist Cathedral in Sunyani, Very Reverend Oswald Samuel K. Boakye, the Superintendent Minister In-Charge, said the "humble birth of Jesus Christ" must guide people to transform their lives. He noted that the real need of mankind was forgiveness of sin and the transformation of character, saying "money is not the real need of people but when we are transformed we will know how to use money".

Very Rev. Boakye, urged Ghanaians to allow the teachings and principles of Christ to be embedded in their lives for the transformation of society.

Christians in the Dormaa Municipality held a night long vigil on Thursday with music and dance to herald the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ. Clad in their traditional uniforms members of various Churches to welcome the mentor of their religion with prayers for the Church, government and the people of Ghana.

Reverend Father William Kyere, parish priest of St Francis de Sales Catholic Church, enjoined Ghanaians to regard themselves as one people with a common goal and reach out to one another irrespective of their ethnic, religious and political affiliations.

He appealed to Christians to let the teachings of Jesus Christ reflect in their behaviour so that non-believers could emulate them. Rev. Kyere said that no religion could be propagated in a society that was bedeviled with chaos and anarchy, and that "the relative peace bestowed on Ghana since Independence some 52 years ago must be guarded not only for those of us today but also for posterity".

Rev. Felix John Yeboah, chairman of council of churches in Dormaa Ahenkro, and head pastor of Assemblies of God Church, asked the clergy avoid adulteration of the gospel.

He noted that Jesus' ministry was a blend of evangelization and the enhancement of his followers and called on churches to seek alternative livelihood interventions to distract the youth from engaging in social vices.