An associate professor at the Department of Construction Technology and Management of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Prof. Anthony Kwame Danso, has asked the youth of Ghana not to rely on prayers as the only means to success, but to work hard as well.
According to him, the over indulgence in prayers and fasting could not make one successful and that the prayers should go hand in hand with hard work
Speaking at the inauguration of the All Souls Baptist Church at Bohyen Adumanu, near Kumasi, under the theme: “Growing in Development for Kingdom Expansion “, Prof. Anthony Kwame Danso,who was the Guest Speaker, implored Ghanaian youth to shun extravagant lifestyles and focus on hard work, guided by Christian principles.
Prof. Danso,who doubles as a Church leader at the Amakom Grace Baptist, noted that the secret of success is fearing God and working hard.
“The secret of success is to fear God and work hard. I am not sacrosanct and I do not claim to be one. I am a sinner like you. David was a sinner yet God cherished him so much because he did not intentionally err,” he said.
Using Far-East nations such as Japan and China as examples, Prof. Danso disclosed that these are largely not Christiannations and yet they have developed so well.
“If you always pray and fast without working, it will lead to nought and you won’t see any breakthrough. On the other hand, if you are Christian and you are not prayerful, it won’t help you either.
“So work hard,pray hard and serve God genuinely and live in Ghana. Pray as if everything hinges on prayers and work hard as though prayers do not exist. This will make you succeed,” he said.
On the issue of the youth seeking greener pastures abroad, the Baptist leader told the Christian youth that it was good to travel, however, if the opportunity was not available, they should stay in Ghana and work hard.
“It is good to travel, but if you did not get such an opportunity, stay in Ghana and work hard,regardless of your academic laurels. Do not say I am a graduate so you do not deserve to do some kind of job. Even if the only job available is selling bread,do it.
“Hard work pays. Even if it is an ice water business, please do it. It doesn’t negate your title as a graduate. My wife was a Computer Science graduate yet she was into pastries. Work hard and life will get better so that you become a responsible person in society,” he advised the youth.
Whilst Prof.Danso urged the youth to live an upright life accompanied by hard work,the academic cum religious leader admitted that his generation has failed Ghanaian youth.
“Our generation has failed you, but you guys can change the narration. Learn the word of God, fear God, take Christianity seriously, work hard and you will become a role module in the Church, Ghana and family”
The minister in charge of the All Souls Baptist Church, under the Ghana Baptist Convention, Rev. Ayim-Nyarkoh Amanfo, admitted that although times are hard, there was hope for Ghana. According to Rev. Ayim-Nyarkoh, they have realised that more often than not, economic issues drive the youth away from God and that the youth are unable to communicate effectively.
As a result of this handicap, he said, his outfit had decided to decouple the youth Church from the adult one.
This initiative, he told the media, aims to teach the youth how they could live a better life to the glory of God.
According to Rev.Ayim-Nyarkoh Amanfo, because the Church wanted to help with issues concerning jobs,since some of them could not attain formal education, but might be interested in learning a vocation, the Church always assisted such individuals to learn a trade and thereby become responsible youth.
“If they do not get a befitting future, where will they be in future? So we want to help them in this respect to become responsible adults to the benefit of Ghana and the Church in general.”
Rev. Ayim-Nyarkoh, however, expressed worry about instances whereby some of the youth leave the Church and do not come back again after being assisted to enrol in school and learn a vocation.
