Presbyterian Church deepens relationship with traditional rulers

Kumasi, July 20, GNA - The Reverend Kwabena Opuni-Frimpong, Chairperson of the Asante Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG), has urged the church to give traditional rulers the necessary recognition and not to despise them.

He said the Christian Holy Book, the Bible, confirms chieftaincy as an institution endorsed by God and this is why Chiefs should be encouraged to become an integral part of the church for effective propagation of the gospel to ensure a better society.

Reverend Opuni-Frimpong was inaugurating a Mission Palace Committee set up by the church to among other things create the platform for the church and traditional leaders to dialogue on matters relating to culture, traditions and the Christian faith.

It would also organize workshops and seminars on the interplay between the Christian faith and African culture, encourage traditional rulers to evangelize the peers and prepare and provide chaplains for the rulers in their various palaces

"Let us rise up and build", was the theme for the occasion.

The Chairperson said the formation of the Mission was necessitated by the fact that the Asante Presbytery found itself in a region where traditions and culture were highly recognized.

He recognized the immense role the Manhyia Palace, for example, played in the establishment of the Presbyterian Church in Ashanti, saying, the work of the foremost missionary, Reverend Fritz Ramseyer, would have been fruitless but for the support and cooperation he received from the Palace.

He said the Presbytery had directed all congregations under its jurisdiction to create special seats in the church to be occupied by traditional rulers.

Nana Amponsaa Biraso, Queen of the Domeabra traditional area, and a member of the Committee, hailed the church for taking a giant step towards making traditional rulers strategic partners, and pledged that they would work hard to make this successful.

The Committee has the Reverend James Kumi-Duodu as the Chairman with Nana Afia Abrafi, Mr Collins Adusei, Ms Grace Owusu Mensah, and the Rev Dr Kwasi Opoku Nyantakyi as members.