Martey Elected Moderator Of Presby Church Of Ghana

Reverend Professor Emmanuel Martey, the Ga Presbytery Chairperson of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG), was yesterday elected the new Moderator of the General Assembly of the church.

Rev. Prof Martey, 61, secured 239 votes out of the 329 cast to defeat his closest contestant, Rev. Dr J.O.Y. Mante, the Akuapem Presbytery Chairperson, after two rounds of voting.

In the first round of voting, Rev. Prof. Martey obtained 161 votes, with Revd Mante securing 73 votes, while Rev. Prof. Cephas Omenyo, the Vice-Dean of the Department of Social Sciences of the University of Ghana, Legon, and minister of the PCG got 72 votes.

Rev. Nii Teiko Dagadu, the Dangme Tongu Presbytery Chairperson, placed fourth by securing seven votes; Rev. Osei Sarpong, the Sekyere Presbytery Chairperson, came fifth with three votes, while Revs I.K. Fokuo, the Kumasi District Minister, and Emmanuel Tekpetey, the Dansoman Estates Chairperson, had two votes and one vote to place sixth and seventh, respectively.

Rev. Dr Kwame Amoah Kuma of the Emmanuel Reformed Presbyterian Church, USA, who travelled all the way from America to take part in the competition, stepped down at the last minute for personal reasons.

The Public Relations Officer of the PCG, Mr Emmanuel Osei Akyeampong, announced the results to the Daily Graphic in a telephone interview shortly after the elections yesterday.

He condemned the negative publications about the Moderator elect by a section of the media, describing them as unfounded, for which reason they should be treated with the contempt they deserved.

Mr Akyeampong stressed that the PCG was a disciplined church and that it would like to advise its members and the public alike to use the structures of the church in addressing all grievances.