Aflao, May 21, GNA- Togbe Amenya Fiti V, Paramount Chief of the Aflao Traditional Area has called for mutual respect among all religious faiths to ensure peaceful co-existence in the area. He advised the church to reciprocate the accommodating gesture of traditional authorities and avoid being arrogant, provocative and confrontational.

Togbe Fiti gave the advice at the dedication of a single-storey mission house for the Aflao area of the Church of Pentecost, built at Ghc 96,000, at the weekend at Gblafedo. He asked churches to transfer from yhe area any church leader who fans trouble between the traditional authority and the church. Togbe Fiti referred to the current tension between the traditional area and the Assemblies of God Church, over an age-old community idol, which the Church wanted, removed from its current premises. Sometime ago the traditional authorities agreed to relocate the idol but the church refused to bear the cost involved, explaining that it was against its principles.

The Aflao police recently averted a near clash between local angry youth and the Church when the idol, removed secretly by people suspected to be linked to the church was being replaced at a ceremony supervised by about a dozen fetish priests from Togo and Benin. The Ministry of the Interior, which is being assisted by the local police, is currently mediating over the impasse. Togbe Fiti praised the Church of Pentecost in the Aflao area, particularly the area Head, Apostle Emmanuel Asante and others for being exemplary in their relation with the traditional authorities. Apostle Dr. Micheal Ntumy, Chairman of the Pentecostal Council of Ghana and Counsellor of the Pentecost University College lauded members of the Church for building the mission house and urged them to do more for the church and community. He entreated them to lead lifestyles worthy of emulation in order not to damage the churches reputation. Apostle Ntumy praised Togbe Fiti for his support for the church and urged him to continue. Apostle Asante, now on transfer to Kasoa, Central Region noted that Dr Ntumy's leadership and hard work was a source of inspiration for them.