The Ghana Baptist Convention has marked its 60th anniversary in Ghana, with a call on political actors and party supporters to avoid engaging in derogatory and personal attacks in their political discourse.
The President of the Ghana Baptist Convention, Rev. Enoch Nii Narh Thompson, while speaking at an event to climax the 60th anniversary celebration of the church in Kumasi, entreated politicians to eschew politics of insults.
Various congregations of the Ghana Baptist Convention from across 1,346 churches in Ghana participated in the anniversary celebration.
He noted that the trend is unhealthy for Ghana’s democratic progress as the country gears up for the 2024 general elections.
Rev. Thompson said, “Violence is not a way to achieve a coherent society. People must learn to respect the views of other people. We are asking all political parties, within and among themselves, to show dignity to each other and avoid insults and monetisation of our politics, so that Ghana will have a better democratic experience.”
Since its establishment, the church has contributed to the moral and social fortitude of its members and the larger Ghanaian population.
He expressed hope that the church will continue to give alms and extend its corporate social responsibility to struggling societies in Ghana.
The President of the Ghana Baptist Convention said the Church is proud of the positive impact it has made in providing educational facilities from the Mafi Early Child Education programme in six communities in the Mafi area of Volta Region, the Kumasi Academy Senior High School, started by their American missionaries and the many basic and senior high schools being run by their churches in various communities across the country, including the Ghana Baptist University College, Kumasi.
“All of the things we do go into a better Ghana through our 60 years of ministry. We are working very hard at getting a shelter-for-worship agenda that will provide classrooms for schools in communities and hideouts for people in times of disaster,” he said.
“We join our hearts for the celebration of 60 years of the preaching of the Gospel and the salvation of souls, the disciples of believers to become true followers of Christ and the training of our members into useful citizens, a reliable human capital for our country and our world.
We are here to celebrate countless social interventions in individuals and family interventions resulting in a better society,” Reverend Thompson said.
He assured that in the great future, they would double their resolve and commitment to seek progress, in what they have called Operation Showers of Blessing, to seek noticeable improvement in at least some five major areas, among other strategic objectives of their ten-year strategic plan.
The guest speaker for the occasion, Rev. Dr. Israel Akanji from the Nigerian Baptist Convention, advised the congregants to maintain their steadfastness.
“The parable about the rich man and Lazarus is characteristic of Jesus Christ trying to talk about the narrow way and the broad way. I will urge you all to hold on to the right path,” he said.
