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How Accra marked Christmas Day

By Graphic Reporters / Daily Graphic / Ghana
General News How Accra marked Christmas Day
DEC 27, 2013 LISTEN

 
Individuals, communities and organisations engaged in various charitable, entertaining and church activities to mark Christmas Day.

Majority of Christians marked the day, which marks the birth of Jesus Christ as the saviour of the world, with church services during which sermons revolving around the themes of love, sharing and the birth of Jesus Christ were preached. Some people flooded entertainment spots, while others took part in street jams.

Church services
In Accra, Rosemary Ardayfio reports that the Rev. Henry Wharton Memorial Methodist Church in Accra Central held a special service during which some of the youth were confirmed as adult members of the church and others declared as full members.

Preaching the sermon, the Rev Victor B. B Boyetey, Superintendent Minister of the church, exhorted Christians to believe that the birth of Jesus was the reason for their very existence.

He also said before the birth of Jesus, God's power was manifested in the word. However, he explained, “when Christ was born, the word became real” and humans could now see the power of God through Him.

Rev. Boyetey emphasised that the celebration of Christ's birth was therefore a time for Christians to do away with all doubts and fears and be assured that God's divine intentions for their lives would be manifested.

At the  Anointed One Congregation of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Sakumono Main Branch yesterday, some members were baptised and some youth confirmed to mark St Stephens' Day, writes Salome Donkor. 

Preaching the sermon, the Minister-in-charge, Rev. Emmanuel Adu Tetteh, said the birth of Christ brought peace to mankind. He, therefore, urged Christians to not stop sharing the gospel until the second coming of Christ.

He said Christ continued to reveal Himself to mankind and that all those who believed in Him would enjoy peace.

Rev. Adu Tetteh urged Ghanaians to change their mentality and analyse issues critically to promote development in the nation and stressed that politicians, individuals, as well as all peace-loving people, should develop a new mentality and analyse issues critically in the interest of national peace and development.

Immediate past Presbyters of the congregation, including Mrs Elisabeth Kwapong, a former Senior Presbyter; Mrs Naomi Wiafe, Mr John Nyadjro Snr. and Mr Joseph Akrofi, were honoured.

Edmund Smith-Asante reports  from the Christ Chapel of Full Gospel Church International at Race Course, Accra that the Associate Pastor of the church, Rev. James Debrah, urged all Christians to live harmoniously and allow peace and goodwill to reign among them.

Speaking on the theme: Peace and goodwill to all men”, Rev. Debrah said Christians could live victorious lives and accomplish so much if they lived in unity.

He thus urged Christians to always remain bonded together, eschew divisive tendencies and always show goodwill towards all men and not only during Christmas.

At the St John the Evangelist Catholic Church at Adenta Frafraha, Severious Kale-Dery reports that the Parish Priest, the Very Rev. Fr Anthony Richard Opong, asked Christians to show love to the poor and needy in the society as they made merry.

“There is somebody somewhere who needs your love. For this period, touch the life of somebody who needs your help,” he said, and tasked those who have, to share with the less-privileged ones in the society.

He said Christians had every cause to rejoice because the Messiah had been born, and encouraged all to “surrender our problems and worries to infant Jesus, who has come to rescue us”.

The Very Rev Fr Opong said the birth of Jesus Christ should be a time for reconciliation and merry-making, adding, “Let us be happy and let our happiness overflow to touch others.”

 Charles Andoh also reports that at the Christ Embassy Church, the head pastor, Pastor Biodun Lawal, explained the essence of Christmas and the birth of Christ to the members.

Pastor Lawal said Jesus Christ was the mediator who had to be born in the form of man to explain the nature of God to man. He added that Jesus's birth was very symbolic, in that when man sinned, mankind was separated from God and Jesus had to be sent to die for the whole world.    

Pastor Lawal stated that by Jesus's birth, the world was reconciled to God and, therefore, called on all Christians to use the occasion to evangelise to others about the relevance of the birth of Christ.

Street parties
Street parties were also held on some principal streets of Accra, reports Daniel Agbenyega.

One of the parties organised by a famous drinking spot in Accra-Newtown, Rooftop, attracted about 400 people, both young and old.

The street party ended the following morning. Patrons lighted fire crackers and danced to highlife and hip life music sang by various artistes all night long. 

Some patrons of the spot said they were there to forget about the challenges of the year and receive the coming year with hope.  Christmas Day, they added, was also a time to make merry and socialise with new friends.

Emmanuel Tawiah Forson reports that some of the entertainment spots that were highly patronised in the capital were 'Busy Mouth' at Teshie Estates and 'Celsbridge,' a nightclub at Labone. Patrons, mostly youth,  danced and drank to their satisfaction. A man in his 20s, obviously drunk, kept yelling  “Jesus! Jesus! Happy Birthday!” 

Donation
The El-Dunamis Minstrel, a group of men and women from the Presbyterian Senior High School at Osu, donated items worth GH¢2,500 to the Teshie Orphanage in Accra on the eve of Christmas. The donation included food items and detergents. 

The minstrel sang Christmas carols to entertain the children. 

Presenting the items, the leader of the El-Dunamis Minstrel, Pastor Samson Okai, said the group was inspired by the Almighty God to share their blessings with their neighbours, including the inmates of the home.

According to him, Christmas meant sharing and that was the main reason the Minstrel decided to bless the less-privileged at the Teshie Orphanage.

Pastor Okai, who is also the Resident Pastor of Champion Faith Community Chapel, said “The ministry is prepared to adopt some of the children, train them to play any musical instrument of their choice and also take on those who want to become members of the El-Dunamis Minstrel.” 

The founder of the orphanage, Mrs Janet Parker, who received the items, commended the group for the hospitality they had shown to the children at the orphanage.

She appealed to stakeholders and private organisations to support the orphanage to improve the lot of the children.

 

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