Religion of Sunday, 31 December 2006

Source: GNA

Ghana Prisons Service Chaplain chastises charlatans

Accra, Dec. 31, GNA - Reverend Father Selwyn S. Adama-Okai, Chaplain General of Ghana Prisons Interdenominational Church on Sunday chastised charlatans who posed as men of God and taking undue advantage of Christians for their selfish interest. "If one is not called by God to do his work he works in vain and would be punished for leading the people astray," he added. Rev. Fr. Adama-Okai, who is a Deputy Superintendent of Prisons (DSP) was delivering a sermon after his induction as the new Chaplain General of the Church in Accra.

A 23-member Council of the Church were also inducted and sworn into office by Right Reverend Colonel Joseph K. Dadson (Rtd) a retired Anglican Bishop and former Chaplain General of the Ghana Armed Forces. Rev. Fr. Adama-Okai a Bachelor of Divinity, was appointed by the Ghana Prison Service succeeded Very Rev. Ampiah Acheampong who has retired.

Speaking on the theme: "Here I am send me" Rev. Fr. Adama-Okai called on the leadership of the Church to lead selfless lifestyles that would serve as a testimony for others to emulate and draw people closer to God. He said God had called each and everyone for a specific purpose and each purpose complemented the other to uplift God's work. Rev. Fr. Adama-Okai asked Ghanaians to shun all negative attitudes that had the potential to retard the country's development as it entered the New Year. He expressed concern about the rate of indiscipline in the Ghanaian society that had led to loss of respect for each other.

The Chaplain General cautioned the country's political leaders to be mindful of their utterances in public and relate well with each other as "The youth are watching". "As we enter the New Year, we ask God to renew our lives to know each other because everyone has a role to play in the country's development," he added. Rev. Fr. Adama-Okai expressed appreciation to the Ghana Prisons Service for the appointment although there were other equally qualified personnel for that position.