I invite the entire Church to remain united and pray for the Lord to continue to lead us and guide us… Moderator Opare Kwakye
24th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana
The Presbyterian Church of Ghana has held its 24th General Assembly at the Ramseyer Training Center, Abetifi Kwahu, bringing together Commissioners, Corresponding Members, and others for a reflective and forward-looking session. This year’s General Assembly under the theme, “Celebrating Our Heritage: Persisting In Mission” (1Cor. 15:58) was marked by a powerful keynote address from the Moderator of the General Assembly, Rt. Rev. Dr. Abraham Nana Opare Kwakye, and a comprehensive report on the church’s activities for the year 2023/2024 presented by the Clerk of the General Assembly, Rev. Dr. Godwin Nii Noi Odonkor.
The event was graced by distinguished guests, including the former Minister of Education and a running mate to the Former President on the ticket of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Prof. Jane Nana Opoku Agyemang, who represented the NDC flagbearer, John Dramani Mahama and the Vice President of the Republic of Ghana and the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), H.E. Dr. Alhaji Mahamadu Bawumia. Their presence underscored the significance of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana as a vital institution in the socio-economic and spiritual fabric of the nation.
Moderator’s Address: A Call for Unity, Commitment, and Prayer
In his maiden Moderatorial Address, Rt. Rev. Dr. Abraham Nana Opare Kwakye emphasized the importance of unity, commitment, and prayer within the church and the broader society. He addressed the Assembly focusing on the following; “Theme for the Year, Bicentennial Anniversary, Youth Development, The Kutunse Conference Centre, Church Growth and Mission, Liturgical Reforms and Renewal, Financing the Church, General Elections in Ghana, Lessons from our Collective History and Appreciation.”
He explained, “In undertaking a mission, one must note that it is the whole church bringing the whole gospel to the whole world.” He further urged all members and sundry to board as PCG celebrates the bicentenary in 2028.
Moderator Kwakye added, “The sustainable growth and future of our beloved Church depends on how we raise our youth.” He spoke about the incorporation of the transformative power of technology and youth entrepreneurs in the Church’s programmes. He added, “We are actively seeking more partnerships with organizations that share our vision of empowering the youth through technology and entrepreneurship. By collaborating with industry leaders, we can leverage their expertise, resources, and networks to create impactful programmes and initiatives.”
On the construction of the Presbyterian Retreat Center at Kutunse, he explained the need to commit to realizing the long-standing dream of the Church since 1996. He therefore called on the General Assembly to endorse an annual levy of GHc 200 per adult member for a year. This was unanimously endorsed by GA with so much hope to build the project.
At the 24th GA, the Moderator launched the Church growth agenda; Agenda 2 Million, and the planting of 1000 churches before 2028. He further explained the need to replace the word ‘Catholic’ in the Apostles’ Creed with ‘Universal’ due contemporary challenges it poses to its meaning. He raised concern about the “teachings and practices that border on abuses and threaten the safety and health of worshippers.” On this, he concluded by saying, “The current openness to new moves of the Holy Spirit by the PCG is a step in the right direction, and must not change… However, deep spiritual discernment must accompany this openness at every level of the Church.”
On financing the Church, the Moderator called on the Assembly to look forward while making suitable decisions to address the teething challenges in the current percentage distribution system.
Rt. Rev. Dr. Kwakye has also called for the initiation of the process to appropriately recognize the fourth dimension of PCG heritage which is the Caribbean Christians. He made this call after opening the gap in the history of the Church and posing, “The PCG – A Triple Heritage of Quadruple Heritage.”
Clerk’s Report: A Year of Progress in Unity of Purpose
The Clerk of the General Assembly, Rev. Dr. Godwin Nii Noi Odonkor, delivered a detailed report on the church’s activities over the past year. His report covered various aspects of the church’s mission, including Church Statistics, the Bi-Centenary Anniversary, the Kutunse Project, GAC Decisions, the PCG Enterprise Resource Planner, Constitutional updates, New Appointments, a call to enhance Digital Worship in PCG, and many more. He noted that “By grace, we have managed a seamless transfer of pastoral and Spiritual responsibility from one Moderator to another.”
Rev. Dr. Odonkor also highlighted some of the Statistical position of the Church, “The year under consideration ended with a total population of 1,366,375 members, registering a growth rate of 8.32%, which is a decrease of 1.4% over the previous year (2022) which recorded one of the highest growth rates of 9.7%.” He further added, “Asante Presbytery has the largest members (195,497) of PCG’s total population representing (14.3%) and the leading contributor of new members (15,216) for 2023.”
The Clerk’s report also detailed the church’s outreach programs, which have seen increased participation and impact, particularly in rural and underserved communities. He commended the various Congregations, Districts, and Presbyteries for their dedication to the church’s mission and for their innovative approaches to ministry during a time of global and local challenges.
Rev. Dr. Odonkor outlined PCG’s social interventions in the country by listing out some of the things PCG has done for the victims of the Akosombo spillage –
- Provision of cooked meals and drinking water for some days,
- Provision of food, mosquito nets, clothing, etc. to the Tokpo safe-haven in the Shai Osudoku District accommodating 250 adults and 220 children from 11 satellite communities affected by the flood disaster;
- With Support from our partner, Act Alliance, a total amount of one million, one hundred thousand Ghana Cedis was distributed via cash transfer to 1000 affected individuals; approximately 5,383 households in the Volta Region; i.e. North and Central Tongu Districts benefited. Each family received one thousand, one hundred Ghana cedis.
- Donation of 3000 exercise books to pupils at Presbyterian Basic School, Mepe.
- Donation of 260 beautifully sewn school uniforms for students.
- Provision of hundreds of bags of water to affected communities;
- Donation of farm inputs (bags of fertilizers and maize seedlings) for 200 farmers to boost agricultural productivity.
- Drilling of a water system, i.e. mechanized borehole in one of the affected communities.
Dignitaries: Affirming the Church’s Role in Nation Building
In her remarks, Prof. Jane Nana Opoku Agyemang praised the Presbyterian Church of Ghana for its longstanding commitment to education and its pivotal role in shaping the moral and intellectual fabric of the nation including being an old student of Aburi Presbyterian Senior High School. Using the Biblical story of Abraham and God’s encounter before the destruction of Sodom, she posited that, her party is ready to rescue Ghanaians who hitherto do not know fully the trouble they find themselves in.
Vice President Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia, in his address, acknowledged the church’s significant contributions to the socio-economic development of Ghana. He lauded the Presbyterian Church for its leadership in health and education, noting that these sectors are crucial for the nation’s development as well as the numerous social interventions. Dr. Bawumia also emphasized the importance of maintaining strong moral values in public life, a principle the Presbyterian Church has consistently championed. He ended up by calling on Ghanaians to rally behind his call for technological advancement to lift the nation.
24th GA: A Call To Action
The 24th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana concluded with a renewed sense of purpose and commitment to living out the values of Christ in a rapidly changing world. The messages delivered by church leaders and dignitaries alike resonated with the need for unity, service, and faith-driven action. As the church moves forward, it is poised to continue playing a transformative role in the spiritual and socio-economic landscape of Ghana. The Assembly took 17 Decisions to position the Church on the path to reach her divine mandate.
