Hundreds of Christians, including the sick, yesterday thronged the Independence Square in Accra on the first day of a gospel crusade by Reinhard Bonnke, an international evangelist.

The about 400 sick people, including the blind and the bed-ridden, were seated at an area designated for people expecting to receive healing miracles.

There was heavy police presence at the crusade grounds to ensure law and order.

The four-day event is dubbed, “Greater Peace Gospel Crusade”.

The crusade is the evangelist’s last in Ghana, as he has indicated that he will be retiring after the Ghana crusade after 39 years of ministry.

In view of his retirement, he will use the crusade to introduce his replacement, Evangelist Daniel Kolenda, whom he has trained in ministry work.

Evangelist Bonnke will also seek to use his final crusade to draw many to Jesus Christ, the foundation of Christianity, and as it is with his crusades, heal those afflicted with diseases through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Preaching the sermon based on Romans 10:13 at the opening session of the crusade, Evangelist Kolenda said everyone who called upon the name of the Lord would be saved.

Earlier, there had been a leadership conference dubbed, “Fire Conference”, at the Independence Square from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m.

All major churches in Accra are taking part in the crusade under the umbrella of the Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Churches, the Christian Council of Ghana and the Association of Independent Churches.

The crusade is expected to be one of the greatest Christian gatherings in Ghana, with the potential to increase economic activities in the country.

Mr Alfred Takyi, who has been in a wheelchair for 12 years, said he was hopeful he would receive his healing by the end of the crusade.