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My gov’t is a natural cheerleader for the private sector -President

By
MAXWELL OFORI
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President Akufo-Addo (3rd from left) being assisted by Samuel Abu Jinapor (left), Caretaker Minister of Trade and Industry, to cut the tape to commission the GB Foods factory at Kpone, Tema.
A long stretch of the GB Food factory at Kpone.

President Akufo-Addo has said that the government he leads is a natural cheerleader for the private sector.

According to him, it was for that reason his government, since assuming office, had rolled out measures to create a business-friendly environment.

The President also said his administration acknowledged the inability to create sufficient jobs on its own, thus, the importance of putting measures in place“to reduce the cost of doing business and improve the business environment.”

He further stated that the goal of his government for the private sector remained constant, regardless of the global economic upheavals.

This goal, he said, was “to unleash the innovative and entrepreneurial instincts of the Ghanaian private sector to drive rapid growth and job creation. I am confident that we will realise this important goal.”

President Akufo-Addo was speaking on Tuesday, March 14, 2023, at the commissioning of the factory expansion of GB Foods, Tema branch.

The President was excited about the prospect that the expansion of GB Foods would influence the company’s decisions, “not only to source domestically its raw material base, but also to venture into the establishment of two industrial farmlands for the processing of tomato concentrate,” and hoped that “many more companies would commit to such a development.”

“The government I lead is a natural cheerleader for the private sector, and it is my sincere wish that GB Foods and, indeed, the Ghanaian private sector, will continue to invest further in Ghana. Cascading investments in our economy is the most effective way to expand and strengthen it in order to create the many jobs our young people so ardently want. It will happen, and soon,” he indicated.

GB FOODS

GB Foods is a leading food manufacturing company and producers of Ghana’s Gino and Pomo range of products.

At a total cost of $5 million, the company expanded its production line by commissioning a state-of-the-art tomato canning line in Tema.

It is aimed at reducing the amount of raw materials imported in the manufacturing of the company’s products, thereby offering more employment opportunities to Ghanaians.

Commission the production line, Arthur Carrula, President of Agrolimen, parent company of GB Foods, said the company was committed to investing in Africa and Ghana.

“With the support of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture and Ministry of Trade and Industry, we are working to identify locations for two contiguous farmlands of 7,000 acres each, on which we will construct two industrial farms, each with an integrated factory to process tomatoes, we will sell in Ghana and also exports to other African countries, taking advantage of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement.

“We estimate that on completion of these two projects, GB Foods would have invested over $70 million of investments and create over 5,000 jobs, earn FX for Ghana,” he said

On his part, the General Manager for GB Foods Ghana, David Kofi Afflu, said the company will continue to invest and help expand Ghana’s economy.

“Apart from the tomatoes processing line, this state-of-the-art facility also has a curry processing line. We believe in Ghana and remain committed in driving investments to grow our footprint in the county. Today’s commissioning is a demonstration of our deep level of commitment to this cause and we shall not relent on this effort,” he stated.

I’ll wean Ghana off of the IMF -Akoto

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admin
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Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto

The immediate-past Minister of Food and Agriculture, Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, has said that his agenda to be President of the Republic of Ghana is to exploit the prospects of the four new institutions he has assisted in establishing to wean the country off the IMF and other international donor bodies.

The institutions, he noted, are the Tree Crop Development Authority (TCDA), Grains Development Authority (GDA), Horticultural Development Authority (HDA) and the Poultry Development Authority (PDA).

Interacting with Asaase Radio on Wednesday, March 15, 2023, on why he wanted to be President, Dr. Afriyie Akoto said the four new institutions, if properly taken care of and the prospects well exploited, would give Ghana a new look, where the economic foundation would be stronger to withstand any shock that may come its way, and also generate enough revenue to fund other developmental projects.

However, he said, for him to achieve this, he must first cross the hurdle of the flagbearer contest of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), a position he was vehemently lacing his boots to contest for.

A similar remark he made when he appeared on PM Express on Tuesday, March 14, 2023, has attracted some criticisms from his political opponents, with many trolling him on social media on where his allegiance would be.

But, Dr. Afriyie Akoto said he was unfazed by the negative criticisms, only that it should be constructive. He added that he was focused on going through the process, believing that when he gets the nod to lead the NPP, and subsequently become the President of the Republic, agriculture would be his number one priority.

“There is something unique about the Akufo-Addo government. [A] Major part of the foundation has been laid. An institution like COCOBOD – from 1947 no commodity authority had been created, but now we have the Tree Crop Development Authority.

We have the Grains Development Authority, which is in Parliament, [and] expected to be passed into law.

We have the Horticultural Development Authority and the Poultry Development Authority to specifically tackle the areas of development in these sub-sectors. These are specific areas that are going to be the new phase in our development.

I think that if we look well after these institutions, Ghana would be out of the clutches of the IMF and other international donors forever and ever, because we would be able to generate all the foreign exchange and other local resources to fund development in industry, the social sectors of the economy like health, education and infrastructure,” he noted.

He added: “We have the capacity in agriculture to do that. So, we need to take care of that, and we need to bring these into being. This is my agenda to be President of Ghana – to drive this new face of our development, based on the foundation that we have laid.”

Explaining the rationale behind his decision, he said the Tree Crop Development Authority, for instance, when properly developed, would generate a combined potential of export earnings of between US$6 to US$12 billion annually after 8-10 years of implementation.

The Grains Development Authority, on the other hand, would provide support to farmers and buy the excesses and store it for use in the lean season.

When quizzed on why there would be much focus on the agricultural sector more than the other sectors of the economy, Dr. Afriyie Akoto, also a former Member of Parliament (MP) for Kwadaso, said the other sectors would be given equal attention, but noted that he would prioritise the allocation of funding to the agricultural sector in order to generate more revenue to fund the others.

“The other sectors need funding. We’ve been borrowing to fund these sectors and that is why every now and then, we find ourselves in the clutches of the IMF. We’ve been to the IMF seventeen (17) times in our 66-year history and I want to make sure that this does not happen again. And we can only do so with these new face institutions.

Cote D’Ivoire with five tree crops of cashew, cocoa, coffee, palm-oil and rubber are doing US$7 to 8 billion a year. Ghana with the same crops is giving us less than US$2billion and we have all the endowments than Cote D’Ivoire in these areas,” he underscored.

In the view of Dr. Afriyie Akoto, the establishment of the four new institutions will propel agriculture to greater heights such that there would be enough to fund the other sectors of the Ghanaian economy without having to go and borrow money that comes with huge interest rate.

He said for more than 100 years, Ghana has been mining gold and some other mineral resources but the change effect has been slow, leading to the country into the hands of the Bretton Woods institution whenever there is a distress in the economy.

“From what I have seen in six years managing the agricultural sector, I am confident that the Ghanaian farmer can deliver us forever from the clutches of the IMF. When you give the Ghanaian farmer incentives in the form of farming inputs and fertilizer, he goes the extra mile to produce more and that is what I will encourage when I become President,” he noted.

By Stephen Odoi-Larbi

Sene East Assembly supports Persons Living with Disabilities

By
FRANCIS OWUSU-ANSAH
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The DCE G.J. Gyimah, (R) making the presentation
Beneficiaries in a group photograph with assembly officials

The Sene East District Assembly, through the Department of Social Welfare and Community Development, has disbursed the 3% share of the Common Fund meant for People Living With Disabilities (PWD).

The disbursement is in the form of the distribution of corn grinding machines, sewing machines, deep freezers, wheelchairs, and cash.

The District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr. G.J. Gyimah, who, on behalf of the Assembly and the Department of Social Welfare And Community Development, did the presentation, noted that the government intended to sustain such support programmes to mitigate the vulnerability PWDs face in society to improve their livelihoods.

He asked them to desist from complaining of not getting jobs, but rather acknowledge the support given by the government and put them to worthy use to better their lives.

The beneficiaries were advised to be ambitious, steadfast, and patient to grow their businesses successfully to be able to cater for their families.

Mr. Majise Zack, Sene East District Director of Social Welfare snd Community Development, said that his outfit would monitor them to make sure all the disbursed items were put to good use, to help improve their standard of living.

Some of the beneficiaries expressed their gratitude to the government and the Sene East District Assembly.

104 PWDs benefit from Disability Fund

By
FRANCIS OWUSU-ANSAH
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Mr. Emmanuel Bukari (l) presenting a fridge to one of the beneficiaries
Some of the items donated

One hundred and four persons with disabilities in the Atebubu-Amantin Municipality in the Bono East Region have benefited from some income generating support items and cash at a brief ceremony in Atebubu.

Welcoming the beneficiaries to the ceremony, the Municipal Director of the Department of Social Welfare and Community Development, Mr. Emmanuel Bukari, said about 900 disabled persons were currently registered with his outfit.

He indicated that the fund had assisted the disabled in the municipality in diverse ways, including education and healthcare, adding that it was currently supporting two blind persons at the University of Cape Coast.

Mr. Bukari reminded all that section 37 of the Disability Act made it an offence for anyone to mock a disabled person using his or her infirmity, and urged service providers to consider the needs of the disabled when planning their activities.

Making the presentation, the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Mr. Edward Owusu, said the government, out of concern for the welfare of the disabled, increased their share of the Common Fund from two to three percent on the assumption of office in 2017.

He urged all who had not benefited under the current arrangement to exercise patience, since they would eventually have their turn.

The MCE asked all potential beneficiaries who had not registered with the Department of Social Welfare and Community Development to do so.

Twenty beneficiaries went home with deep freezers, with two, each receiving block making machines, fufu pounding and knitting machines, while one has an oven and a gas cylinder.

Twelve beneficiaries who intended to get into various vocations received hair dryers, weaving tools, welding and sewing machines, together with cash, ranging between GH¢1,000 and GH¢1,500, to pay for their apprenticeship.

One beneficiary received GH¢4,500, and 23 others received GH¢2000 each, to pursue petty trading, while 10 beneficiaries took home GH¢2,000.00 each for crop farming, with nine receiving GH¢1,200.00 each for animal farming. Twenty-two others received support for education and healthcare.

Mr. Sulemana Shaibu, Chairman of the local branch of the Ghana Federation of the Disabled, on behalf of the beneficiaries, thanked the government and the Municipal Assembly for the gesture, and urged parents and guardians to desist from hiding their disabled children from the public, since they may have some potentials in them which could be unearthed given the needed support.

Nana Kwabena Kyere, Adontenhene of the Atebubu Traditional Area and acting President of the Atebubu traditional Council, who chaired the function, urged the beneficiaries to put the items to the intended use to benefit themselves and their families.

Techiman Municipal Assembly to develop comprehensive drainage system to address flooding

By
FRANCIS OWUSU-ANSAH
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Benjamin Yaw Gyarko, Techiman South MCE

The Techiman Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Mr. Benjamin Yaw Gyarko, has given the assurance that the Assembly was developing a comprehensive drainage system in the Techiman township to tackle the perennial flooding.

He said the municipality was a beneficiary of the World Bank-funded Ghana Secondary Cities Support Programme, saying very soon the municipality would witness well improved drainage systems.

Mr. Gyarko added that the municipality was also designing a well-structured development plan under the programme, indicating that the Assembly had targeted and was improving access roads as well.

Some of the beneficiary roads include Abuoso community roads, Ahenebronuso Nana Anena market area roads, and Twimia-Kuase, as well as the Twimia-Nkwanta roads.

Mr. Gyarko expressed worry that flooding had become an annual ritual in the municipality, submerging houses and causing extensive damage to properties, partly due to the poor drainage systems.

He, therefore, advised the people to refrain from putting up structures and residential accommodation on waterways, and urged those who already live in flood-prone areas to relocate to protect themselves and their properties.

Mr. Gyarko said the Assembly was working closely with the National Disaster Management Organisation and the Ghana National Fire Service, as well as the Environmental Protection Agency, to see the possibilities of ending flooding in the municipality.

BCAM, Beige Bank had agreement on depositors’ fund -Nyimaku

By
BERNICE BESSEY
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Michael Nyinaku, Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the defunct Beige Bank Group, has explained the rationale behind the transfer of depositors’ funds to the account of a subsidiary company, Beige Capital and Asset Management (BCAM).

According to him, there was an agreement between BCAM and Beige Bank to the effect that depositors’ funds with the bank would be transferred to the former, if the investment interest exceeded the banking borrowing rate, adding that this was explained in his response to the Receiver’s query.

He made the statement through his Counsel, Thaddeus Sory, while crossing examining the prosecution first witness (PW1), Julius Ayivor, who also is a lead team member of the Receiver on Monday this week.

The case is being held by the Economic and Financial Division of the Accra High Court, presided over by Justice Afia Serwaa Asare-Botwe.

Mr. Ayivor, in response, said the statement was not entirely correct, because the answer provided by Mr. Nyimaku indicates that, yes, they (Beige Bank) had an agreement with BCAM, where they would transfer to BCAM deposits that came with a cost that was above the bank’s borrowing rate.

He continued: “He (Mr. Nyinaku) did not say they had an agreement with BCAM, where they will transfer customers’ deposits to BCAM.”

This answer was followed by a question from the Counsel: “From your understanding of what the accused (Mr. Nyimaku) said, could these deposits come from any other place apart from the bank?”

Nevertheless, the witness indicated that the funds were customers’ deposits held with the bank, and those funds were not the bank’s deposits.

The Counsel maintained that the accused had explained to the Receiver how customers’ deposits with the bank were transferred to BCAM, but PW1 answered that it was true, and he had even explained the circumstances leading to the transfers of deposits placed by customers of Beige Bank to BCAM, with the knowledge and instructions of the customers.

Question: Is that Exhibit AB4?

Answer:  He did not state that, but that is the fact.

Question: Please, look at Exhibit AB4 and tell the court which part of the statement you are referring to.

Answer: What the bank would tell the customer is ‘we are sorry, we can place this investment at that investment rate.’ If the bank so wish, it will refer the customer to another entity. The bank wouldn’t take deposits and transfer to another entity owned and controlled by the CEO of the same bank. If that happens, it would be siphoning money from the account of that custom to another entity to the benefit of the CEO.

With all the examples provided when the accounts of the customers were debited, the amount of BCAM was credited giving BCAM access to those credit. All those credits were appropriated by BCAM and the balance has only over GH¢500,000 and some pesewas from August 9 when the licence was revoked.

Background

Mr. Nyinaku has been charged with stealing, fraudulent breach of trust, and money laundering, which he denied in court.

His Beige Bank license was revoked by the Bank of Ghana (BoG) on August 1, 2018, and placed it in receivership.

A review of the financial and other records of the bank, conducted by the Receiver and his team, identified several suspicious and unusual transactions, which were subsequently reported to the law enforcement agencies for investigation.

The facts before the trial court indicated that between 2015 and 2018, the accused person, as CEO of the Bank, used various means to transfer huge sums of monies to companies related to him and for his personal benefits.

The funds transferred to BCAM were depositors’ funds lodged with the Beige Bank.

Thus, between 2017 and 2018, Nyinaku caused the transfer of GH¢10,071.00 fixed deposit account held with Beige Bank, in which various customers placed a total of GH¢448,636,210.21, to Beige Capital Asset Management Limited (BCAM) without the knowledge and consent of these customers.

BCAM is a limited liability company wholly owned by the Beige Group Limited (Beige Group), an entity which, in turn, is wholly owned by the accused person.

Investigations also revealed that the accused person, between 2017 and 2018, caused the transfer of 35 fixed deposit investments of 23 customers of Beige Bank, valued at GH¢141,042,348.92, to the Beige Group, a company wholly owned by the accused person and its majority shareholders of Beige Bank.

Further investigations revealed that in March 2018, the accused person caused a fictitious second account to be opened in the name of First African Savings and Loans (FASL), an existing account holder with Beige Bank, without the knowledge of the Board and Management of FASL.

According to the facts, the accused person then caused the transfer of the sum of GH¢320 million from the accounts of various Beige Bank customers into the bank accounts of BCAM held with Beige Bank.

The GH¢320 million was subsequently transferred from the BCAM account held with the Beige Bank into the fictitious FASL account that had been opened in Beige Bank’s books on the instructions of the accused person.

Therefore, between March 2018 and August 2018, GH¢21,123,270.96, out of the GH¢320 million, was transferred from the fictitious FASL bank account to some two individuals and ten companies, nine of which are related to Nyinaku, on his instructions.

Again, between 2015 and 2017, the accused person, through the use of payment vouchers, caused the sum of GH¢1,465,000.00 of depositors’ funds lodged with Beige Bank, to be paid to himself and other persons, the court heard.

These transactions were recorded in a general ledger account of the bank, described as Directors’ Account, adding that it came out that the accused person, through the use of payment vouchers, e-mails and memos, caused a total of GH¢20,599,052.58 of depositors’ funds lodged with Beige Bank to be transferred to a number of a general ledger account of the bank, described as shareholders’ account.

Additionally, that between 2016 and 2017, the accused, through the use of payment vouchers, caused a total amount of GH¢141,742,087.70 of depositors’ funds lodged with Beige Bank to be transferred to a number of companies and individuals for his benefits, he said.

Furthermore, these transactions were recorded in the general ledger account of the Bank, described as Prepayment: Project Work Account, since between 2017 and 2018, the accused person, through the use of payment vouchers, e-mails, memos, further caused the sum of GH¢118,076,813.09 of depositors’ funds lodged with Beige Bank to be transferred to a number of companies and individuals, for his benefit.

These transactions were also recorded in a general ledger account of the bank, described as Beige Group Account.

The court heard that investigations had established that the money the accused allegedly dishonestly appropriated from the Beige Bank remained unpaid as at August 1, 2018, when the Bank’s license was revoked by the BoG.

Kejetia Market on Fire

By
JENNIFER AMBOLLEY
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Fire Service Officers fighting the Kejetia market

The Kejetia Market in Kumasi, which was flooded after the rain a few weeks ago, has yesterday reportedly been gutted by fire. The inferno gutted parts of the Ashanti Regional facility yesterday.

Traders affected by the incident were seen wailing as they tried to salvage as many of their wares as they could. It is yet unclear what triggered the outbreak. Some of the victims who collapsed due to the smoke were carried to health facilities nearby.

It will be recalled that on March 8th this year, a heavy downpour, which lasted for two hours, left the Kejetia Market flooded. It destroyed goods worth thousands of Ghana Cedis.

Frank Antwi, head of the Concerned Kejetia Merchants Association, responded to the issue by advising the market vendors to keep their goods off the ground and up on high tables to protect them from flooding.

While pleading with the Mayor of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA), Mr. Antwi demanded that the market’s clogged drains be cleared off silt.

The Chairman also said that the group had filed a lawsuit against the market’s administration for the harm done to the properties of the members during earlier floods.

He did, however, add that they were awaiting the court’s ruling.

How do processed foods affect your health?

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admin
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Are processed foods a health risk

Below, we look at seven reasons why processed foods can increase the risk to a person’s health.

  1. Added sugar

Processed foods tend to contain added sugar and, often, high fructose corn syrup. Added sugar contains no essential nutrients but is high in calories.

Regularly consuming an excess of added sugar can lead to compulsive overeating. It is also linked with health conditions such as obesity, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, and inflammatory diseases.

Processed foods and beverages are among the major sources of added sugar in the diet. Sweetened beverages are a particularly significant source; people tend to consume much more sugar than they realize in soft drinks.

Cutting down on added sugar — by drinking sparkling water instead of soda, for example — is a quick and effective way to make the diet more healthful.

  1. Artificial ingredients

The ingredients list on the back of processed food packaging is often full of unrecognizable substances. Some are artificial chemicals that the manufacturer has added to make the food more palatable.

Highly processed foods often contain the following types of chemicals:

preservatives, which keep the food from going bad quickly

artificial coloring

chemical flavoring

texturing agents

Also, processed foods can contain dozens of additional chemicals that are not listed on their labels.

For example, “artificial flavor” is a proprietary blend. Manufacturers do not have to disclose exactly what it means, and it is usually a combination of chemicals.

Official organizations have tested most food additives for safety, though the use of these chemicals remains controversial among doctors and researchers.

  1. 3. Refined carbohydrates

Carbohydrates are an essential component of any diet. However, carbs from whole foods provide far greater health benefits than refined carbohydrates.

The body breaks down refined, or simple, carbohydrates quickly, leading to rapid spikes in blood sugar and insulin levels. When these levels then drop, a person may experience food cravings and low energy.

Because refined carbs cause frequent increases and decreases in blood sugar, consuming them is linked with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes.

Highly processed foods are often high in refined carbohydrates.

Healthful sources of carbohydrates include:

whole grains

vegetables

fruits

beans and pulses

  1. Low in nutrients

Ultra-processed foods are very low in essential nutrients, compared with whole or minimally processed foods.

In some cases, manufacturers add synthetic vitamins and minerals to replace nutrients lost during processing. However, whole foods provide additional healthful compounds that ultra-processed foods do not.

Fruits, vegetables, and grains, for example, contain healthful plant compounds with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticarcinogenic effects. These include flavonoids, anthocyanins, tannins, and carotenoids.

The best way to get the full range of essential nutrients is to eat whole, unprocessed, or minimally processed foods.

  1. Low in fiber

Dietary fiber has a wide range of health benefits.

Fiber can slow the absorption of carbohydrates and help people feel more satisfied with fewer calories. It also acts as a prebiotic, feeding the friendly bacteria in the gut, and can help boost heart health.

Most ultra-processed foods are very low in fiber, as natural fiber is lost during processing.

Healthful high fiber foods include:

legumes

vegetables

fruits

nuts and seeds

whole grains

  1. Quick calories

The way that manufacturers process foods makes them very easy to chew and swallow.

Because much of the fiber is lost during processing, it takes less energy to eat and digest ultra-processed foods than whole or less processed foods.

As a result, it is easier to eat more of these products in shorter periods. In doing so, a person consumes more calories — and uses fewer in digestion — than they would if they had eaten whole foods instead.

This increases a person’s chances of taking in more calories than they use up, which can lead to unintentional weight gain.

  1. Trans fats

Ultra-processed foods are often high in unhealthful, cheap fats. For example, they often contain refined seed or vegetable oils, which can be easy to use, inexpensive, and last a long time.

Manufacturers create artificial trans fats by adding hydrogen to liquid vegetable oils, making them more solid.

Trans fats increase inflammation in the body. They also raise levels of low-density lipoprotein, or “bad,” cholesterol, and decrease levels of high-density lipoprotein, or “good,” cholesterol.

Eating trans fats is associated with an increased risk of heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes. For example, according to a 2019 study, a 2% increase in energy intake from trans fats is linked with a 23% increase in cardiovascular risk.

The best way to avoid refined oils and trans fats is to avoid processed foods. A person can replace these with healthful alternatives, such as coconut oil or olive oil.

Summary

In recent decades, ultra-processed foods have become common in diets worldwide. However, eating large amounts of these foods increases risks to health.

To rebalance the diet or make it more healthful, a person can replace ultra-processed foods with whole foods, including grains, nuts, seeds, lean meats, fruits, vegetables, and legumes.

Source: www.medicalnewstoday.com

Feature: ONCE SAVED ALWAYS SAVED? NOT SO CONTINUES

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Pastor David Leroy Matthews -Sozo Ministries, Ohio

We are still on the subject of adding the blood covenant, that we born again saints missed by hearing a water down message.

Prophetically Abraham performed Romans 10:9, 10 (Romans 10:9-10

[9]that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. (that if you make a blood covenant with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that YAHWEH (God) Has raised Him from the dead, you will be made whole (saved)

[10]For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation (rescue safety, physically or morally, healing, deliverance, preservation of life, do well).

When he met Melchizedek.

Genesis 14:17-24

[17]And the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley), after his return from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him. Abram and Melchizedek

[18]Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of God Most High.

[19]And he blessed him and said: “Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth;

[20]And blessed be God Most High, Who has delivered your enemies into your hand.” And he gave him a tithe of all.

[21]Now the king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the persons, and take the goods for yourself.”

[22]But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have raised my hand to the Lord, God Most High, the Possessor of heaven and earth,

[23]that I will take nothing, from a thread to a sandal strap, and that I will not take anything that is yours, lest you should say, ‘I have made Abram rich’—

[24]except only what the young men have eaten, and the portion of the men who went with me: Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre; let them take their portion.”

I have heard a number of Pastors teach that Abraham was a coward, because Abraham did not fight for his wife. None of the pastors understand a blood covenant with YAHWEH, as Abraham did.

Genesis 20:7 Now therefore, restore the man’s wife; for he is a prophet, and he will pray for you and you shall live. But if you do not restore her, know that you shall surely die, you and all who are yours.”

In their bible college, seminaries, they turn out unbelieving believers. I was invited to a church of Christ gospel meeting twice, two different speakers, a year apart, both said that, if you are sick, it’s better to go ahead and die.

Abraham understood a blood covenant with YAHWEH, the covenant keeping and covenant making All Mighty One.

Yahweh told Abraham that the promised child would come out of Sarah’s womb, James 2:23 Abraham believed Yahweh (God) and it was imputed unto him for righteousness and he was called the friend of YAHWEH

Numbers 23:19

God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?

Deuteronomy 29:1-29

[1]These are the words of the covenant, which the LORD commanded Moses to make with the children of Israel in the land of Moab, beside the covenant which he made with them in Horeb.

[2]And Moses called unto all Israel, and said unto them, Ye have seen all that the LORD did before your eyes in the land of Egypt unto Pharaoh, and unto all his servants, and unto all his land;

[3]The great temptations which thine eyes have seen, the signs, and those great miracles:

[4]Yet the LORD hath not given you an heart to perceive, and eyes to see, and ears to hear, unto this day.

[5]And I have led you forty years in the wilderness: your clothes are not waxen old upon you, and thy shoe is not waxen old upon thy foot.

[6]Ye have not eaten bread, neither have ye drunk wine or strong drink: that ye might know that I am the LORD your God.

[7]And when ye came unto this place, Sihon the king of Heshbon, and Og the king of Bashan, came out against us unto battle, and we smote them:

[8]And we took their land, and gave it for an inheritance unto the Reubenites, and to the Gadites, and to the half tribe of Manasseh.

[9]Keep therefore the words of this covenant, and do them, that ye may prosper in all that ye do.

[10]Ye stand this day all of you before the LORD your God; your captains of your tribes, your elders, and your officers, with all the men of Israel,

[11]Your little ones, your wives, and thy stranger that is in thy camp, from the hewer of thy wood unto the drawer of thy water:

[12]That thou shouldest enter into covenant with the LORD thy God, and into his oath, which the LORD thy God maketh with thee this day:

[13]That he may establish thee today for a people unto himself, and that he may be unto thee a God, as he hath said unto thee, and as he hath sworn unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.

[14]Neither with you only do I make this covenant and this oath;

[15]But with him that standeth here with us this day before the LORD our God, and also with him that is not here with us this day:

[16](For ye know how we have dwelt in the land of Egypt; and how we came through the nations which ye passed by;

[17]And ye have seen their abominations, and their idols, wood and stone, silver and gold, which were among them:)

[18]Lest there should be among you man, or woman, or family, or tribe, whose heart turneth away this day from the LORD our God, to go and serve the gods of these nations; lest there should be among you a root that beareth gall and wormwood;

[19]And it come to pass, when he heareth the words of this curse, that he bless himself in his heart, saying, I shall have peace, though I walk in the imagination of mine heart, to add drunkenness to thirst:

[20]The LORD will not spare him, but then the anger of the LORD and his jealousy shall smoke against that man, and all the curses that are written in this book shall lie upon him, and the LORD shall blot out his name from under heaven.

[21]And the LORD shall separate him unto evil out of all the tribes of Israel, according to all the curses of the covenant that are written in this book of the law:

[22]So that the generation to come of your children that shall rise up after you, and the stranger that shall come from a far land, shall say, when they see the plagues of that land, and the sicknesses which the LORD hath laid upon it;

[23]And that the whole land thereof is brimstone, and salt, and burning, that it is not sown, nor beareth, nor any grass groweth therein, like the overthrow of Sodom, and Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboim, which the LORD overthrew in his anger, and in his wrath:

[24]Even all nations shall say, Wherefore hath the LORD done thus unto this land? what meaneth the heat of this great anger?

[25]Then men shall say, Because they have forsaken the covenant of the LORD God of their fathers, which he made with them when he brought them forth out of the land of Egypt:

[26]For they went and served other gods, and worshipped them, gods whom they knew not, and whom he had not given unto them:

[27]And the anger of the LORD was kindled against this land, to bring upon it all the curses that are written in this book:

[28]And the LORD rooted them out of their land in anger, and in wrath, and in great indignation, and cast them into another land, as it is this day.

[29]The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.

All of the gods that Israel worshiped, Satan gave to the present day born again church in our so called Christian holidays. The word ‘Easter’ in your bible, Acts 12:4 is the word ‘PASSOVER’

It is the last god that Abraham’s father worshiped. The frontier city of Babylon Empire devoted to the worship of the moon god, offering eggs and rabbits to the god of fertility, to have a grandson

Abraham stayed with his father for 25 years until he died.

Genesis 12:1-3

[1]Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee:

[2]And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:

[3]And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

The reason for the eggs and rabbits is because a chicken lays a lot of eggs and rabbits can have many young ones, they became what was offered to the queen of heaven.

Acts 7:1-6

[1]Then said the high priest, Are these things so?

[2]And he said, Men, brethren, and fathers, hearken; The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran,

[3]And said unto him, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and come into the land which I shall shew thee.

[4]Then came he out of the land of the Chaldaeans, and dwelt in Charran: and from thence, when his father was dead, he removed him into this land, wherein ye now dwell.

[5]And he gave him none inheritance in it, no, not so much as to set his foot on: yet he promised that he would give it to him for a possession, and to his seed after him, when as yet he had no child.

[6]And God spake on this wise, That his seed should sojourn in a strange land; and that they should bring them into bondage, and entreat them evil four hundred years.

Jeremiah 7:17-19

[17]Seest thou not what they do in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem?

[18]The children gather wood, and the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead their dough, to make cakes to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto other gods, that they may provoke me to anger.

[19]Do they provoke me to anger? saith the LORD: do they not provoke themselves to the confusion of their own faces?

Jeremiah 44:15-27

[15]Then all the men which knew that their wives had burned incense unto other gods, and all the women that stood by, a great multitude, even all the people that dwelt in the land of Egypt, in Pathros, answered Jeremiah, saying,

[16]As for the word that thou hast spoken unto us in the name of the LORD, we will not hearken unto thee.

[17]But we will certainly do whatsoever thing goeth forth out of our own mouth, to burn incense unto the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her, as we have done, we, and our fathers, our kings, and our princes, in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem: for then had we plenty of victuals, and were well, and saw no evil.

[18]But since we left off to burn incense to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her, we have wanted all things, and have been consumed by the sword and by the famine.

[19]And when we burned incense to the queen of heaven, and poured out drink offerings unto her, did we make her cakes to worship her, and pour out drink offerings unto her, without our men?

[20]Then Jeremiah said unto all the people, to the men, and to the women, and to all the people which had given him that answer, saying,

[21]The incense that ye burned in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem, ye, and your fathers, your kings, and your princes, and the people of the land, did not the LORD remember them, and came it not into his mind?

[22]So that the LORD could no longer bear, because of the evil of your doings, and because of the abominations which ye have committed; therefore is your land a desolation, and an astonishment, and a curse, without an inhabitant, as at this day.

[23]Because ye have burned incense, and because ye have sinned against the LORD, and have not obeyed the voice of the LORD, nor walked in his law, nor in his statutes, nor in his testimonies; therefore this evil is happened unto you, as at this day.

[24]Moreover Jeremiah said unto all the people, and to all the women, Hear the word of the LORD, all Judah that are in the land of Egypt:

[25]Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, saying; Ye and your wives have both spoken with your mouths, and fulfilled with your hand, saying, We will surely perform our vows that we have vowed, to burn incense to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her: ye will surely accomplish your vows, and surely perform your vows.

[26]Therefore hear ye the word of the LORD, all Judah that dwell in the land of Egypt; Behold, I have sworn by my great name, saith the LORD, that my name shall no more be named in the mouth of any man of Judah in all the land of Egypt, saying, The Lord GOD liveth.

[27]Behold, I will watch over them for evil, and not for good: and all the men of Judah that are in the land of Egypt shall be consumed by the sword and by the famine, until there be an end of them.

Around this world, born again believers are having Easter egg hunts, unfortunately there will be people like those in verse 16 of Deuteronomy 29:16-29 who will read this warning.

And be like people of Deuteronomy 29:11-19 and think this man keeps writing about adding covenant to my born again life. All right I will do that, but their heart is not giving up what they love.

Deuteronomy 4:23-24

[23]Take heed unto yourselves, lest ye forget the covenant of the LORD your God, which he made with you, and make you a graven image, or the likeness of any thing, which the LORD thy God hath forbidden thee.

[24]For the LORD thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God.

Exodus 20:1-6

[1]And God spake all these words, saying,

[2]I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.

[3]Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

[4]Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:

[5]Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;

[6]And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.

Exodus 34:14-15

[14]For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God:

[15]Lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, and they go a whoring after their gods, and do sacrifice unto their gods, and one call thee, and thou eat of his sacrifice;

Revelation 18:4

[4]And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.

Examples of plagues are: covid-19, ebola, monkey pots etc.

 

By Pastor David Leroy Matthews of Sozo Ministries “Ohio” Space Sponsored by Emmanuel Akwasi Adjei Be Made Whole International Ministry

Email- bemadewholeministryint@gmail.com

Erdogan hints Turkey may ratify Finland’s NATO membership

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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has suggested his government will ratify Finland's membership in NATO

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has suggested that Ankara could soon ratify Finland’s application to join NATO and allow the country to join the military alliance separately from Sweden.

Alarmed by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine a year ago, Finland and Sweden abandoned decades of nonalignment and applied to join the alliance. All 30 NATO members have approved their applications, and 28 have ratified their accession. Only Turkey and Hungary have yet to do so.

Turkey’s government accuses Sweden of being too soft on groups that it considers to be “terror” organisations and existential threats, including Kurdish groups.

Turkish officials have also been angered by a series of demonstrations in Sweden, including a protest by an anti-Islam activist who burned the Quran outside the Turkish embassy.

Ankara has said, however, that it has fewer problems with Finland’s membership.

Asked by reporters on Wednesday whether Turkey could ratify Finland’s membership after a visit by Finnish President Sauli Niinisto this week, Erdogan responded: “God willing, if it is for the best.”

“Whatever the process is, the process will function,” Erdogan said. “We will do our part. We will keep our promise. We will meet with the president on Friday and fulfil the promise we made.”

Niinisto is scheduled to arrive in Turkey along with Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto on Thursday when the two officials will tour areas affected by devastating earthquakes that hit parts of Turkey and Syria last month.

Niinisto and Erdogan are scheduled to meet in Istanbul on Friday.

The Finnish president said he expects Erdogan to confirm Turkey’s backing, according to the Reuters news agency.

Source: Aljazeera.com

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