Travelling with the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Rt. Rev. Dr Abraham Nana Opare Kwakye, through his weeklong Central Presbytery tour, was a privilege. It was not work for me but service to God and His church, an experience I will always cherish. I witnessed firsthand how the visit was more than a pastoral duty. It was a reaffirmation of unity between the church and its publics.
From the first stop in Kasoa, the Moderator’s message was clear: unity in Christ is the foundation of the PCG’s mission. At Emmanuel Congregation, he charged congregants to be united, reminding them that “a united church stands to do more for God than a divided one.” His visit to the palace of Nana Odupon Awushie Tetteh, Benkumhene of Awushie Traditional Area, reinforced the church’s respect for traditional leadership, as he prayed for the chief and elders while highlighting PCG’s contributions to education and health.
In Swedru, the Moderator’s appeal to Nana Kwaku Essieni V, Nifahene of Agona Swedru, was imperative. He pleaded for traditional leaders to help mission schools preserve their ethos, noting that discipline and values must not be compromised. The chief responded warmly, commending the church’s role in education and calling for stronger parenting.
The Asikuma Zone was unforgettable. Jubilation greeted the Moderator’s entourage at Breman Asikuma, where brass band music and colourful displays bore testimony to the spirit of the congregations. At the palace, Odeefo Amoakwa Buadu VIII, President of the Central Regional House of Chiefs, called for deeper relations between the church and traditional authorities, insisting that both institutions wield immense influence to bring positive change. The Moderator, in turn, touched on the PCG’s enduring contributions to national development and invited the chief to the bicentennial celebration in 2028.
At Nsaba, inside the palace of Nana Okaseku Afari Mintah II, the Moderator expressed concern over rising violence in Senior High Schools, urging chiefs, parents, and educators to join forces to curb indiscipline. The chief, himself a former teacher, praised Presbyterian discipline and pledged his support. At Nsaba Presbyterian Senior High School, the Moderator’s message was inspiring. He reminded the students that “discipline is not punishment” but “the foundation of character”.
The climax in Winneba was both spiritual and symbolic. Worshipping with the National Union of Presbyterian Students – Ghana (NUPS‑G) at the University of Education, the Moderator presented a cheque for GHS100,000 on behalf of the church and 100 bags of cement from him and his wife to support the construction of their auditorium. He praised the students’ enthusiasm, urging them to stand out as ambassadors of God.
Reporting the Moderator’s speeches and engagements with agents, chiefs, congregants, schoolchildren, and others across the Central Presbytery, one theme stands out for me: the PCG is not only a spiritual institution but also a social partner in nation‑building. The visit strengthened ties with chiefs, inspired students, and encouraged congregants and their ministers, demonstrating that the pulpit and the stool, the classroom and the chapel, can work together to shape Ghana’s future.
Perusing my daily notes on Rt. Rev. Dr Abraham Nana Opare Kwakye, I see a PCG leader determined to remind us of our bicentennial vision, maintain momentum for Kutunse Project, calling for unity and discipline, while building bridges with traditional authorities. I commend the Moderator and the Central Presbytery Chairperson, Rev. Fiifi Arkhurst, and his ministers for their dedication. The Central Presbytery visit, for me, was not just pastoral; it was prophetic, pointing the PCG and Ghana to a future where discipline and unity are the vehicles to take us there.
By Jerome Otchere
Public Relations Officer
