Story, Nana Sifa Twum, London
An impressive Thanksgiving service has been held in London to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Ghana’s republic.
Ghana’s Republic Day thanksgiving service in the UK has been an annual affair usually taking place in the middle of July. This year’s event was under the auspices of the Ghana High Commission, the Ghana Union UK and the Ghanaian Family Service Committee.
In attendance were a large number of Ghanaians drawn from over 50 Ghanaian churches in the United Kingdom.
The highlights of the occasion included praises and scripture readings by eminent Ghanaians in the UK including Ghana’s Deputy High Commissioner to the UK, Mrs. Elizabeth Nicol.
The services which was also participated by a delegation from the Methodist church of Ghana in Accra, was under the theme, “Making the Right Choices”
Reverend Johnson Gbagbo of the Zion Mission Church in London who preached the sermon recounted choices made by the people of Ghana regarding leadership and noted that the nation has come this far primarily due to the choices made.
He observed that Ghanaians over the years since gained the status of republic have made very crucial choices to elect people in leading the country. “This act has seen elevated the country above other third world countries”.
He noted that some countries have made wrong choices in issues like trade partnership, leadership, the type of investment, the type of education and have had the consequences accordingly.
Reverend Gbagbo said if the people had made wrong choices the country would have been heading for a doom by now, but since right choices were made at particular times, the right things for the country have therefore followed.
He therefore called on politicians to provide fair, truthful and transparent information to the electorate to enable them make the right choices, explaining that choices could only be made with the right information.
He warned against politicians twisting the truth to get what they want and said such issues at times cripple the people in making right decision. “Making right decisions for a nation is very vital in the development of every nation.” He added.
He called on Ghanaians living in the UK to make rights choices and derive the maximum benefit.
Prayers for Ghana and it leaders were said by the Head of the Ghanaian Chaplaincy in the UK, Reverend Silvanus Tetteh, the Head of Methodist Church in the UK, Reverend Emmanuel Aggrrey Ogoo and the former head of the Presbyterian church of Ghana, the Very Right Reverend Sam Prempeh, while the London Ghana Seventh day Adventist Singing Band among other singing groups thrilled the hearts of the congregation with inspiring songs.