Sekondi-Takoradi marks Good Friday with church services

Many churches in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis on Friday held services to mark the crucifixion of Jesus Christ on the cross in Calvary more than 2000 years ago.

Others held conventions and crusades to mark the day as many of the churches were filled to capacity.

Majority of the people were either in red and black or black attires, while others wore their society uniforms to express grief at the death of Jesus, which is viewed in Christian Theology as a necessary sacrifice to make for the salvation of mankind.

At Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Cathedral in Takoradi, the Apostolic Nuncio to Ghana, Most Reverend Jean Marie Speich, joined parishioners to start the day with an adoration ceremony and later went through the 14-Stations of the Cross.

In a homily, Most Rev. Speich said for the sins of mankind Jesus was pierced and thrashed, but Christians were not ready to make a little sacrifice for their fellow beings.

He said Jesus loved the world without any condition and did not withdraw his love even in His pain and suffering, adding; ‘’He suffered to His death so that mankind will have life.’’

"As you participate in the passion of Jesus may your hearts show more love with generosity to your fellow human beings so that you will know the divinity of Christ".

At the Wesley Methodist Cathedral in Sekondi, Very Reverend Georgina Mensah Brown, the Second Minister of the Church, urged Christians to confide only in God and not man.

She said it was important for every Christian to receive salvation in order to inherit eternal life.

Preaching on the Seven Words on the Cross, Very Rev. Brown called on believers to commit their lives to God and acknowledge Him in everything they did to receive salvation.

"Just as Christ, while on the Cross, committed Himself to God by saying, ‘Father in your hands I commit my spirit,' Christians, who want to inherit the Kingdom of God, should learn do same.’’

Special prayers were said for the Church, its leaders, the Government and the entire nation.