Crisis Hits Church in Kwahu South

The controversy surrounding ownership of some branches of the Christ Apostolic Church International (CACI) in some parts of the country has hit the Old Jejeti branch of the church in the Kwahu South District of the Eastern Region.

Some former members and a pastor stormed the church premises on April 28, during a Sunday morning service to claim ownership of the church.

The four, John Teye Cobbina (a dismissed pastor of the church), Paul Nkansah (a former elder), Michael Antwi and Joseph Coffie, both former members of the church, are standing trial at the Nkawkaw Community Tribunal on charges of offensive conduct and interrupting church service.

According to the prosecutor, Chief Inspector Samuel Asare, last year the four accused persons rebelled against the mother church, that is the Christ Apostolic Church International, and formed a rival church known as Christ Apostolic Church International of Ghana.

He said on April 25, this year, Nkansah allegedly arrived at New Jejeti and went round announcing to people that he was going to takeover the church in the town on the 28th of the same month, which was a Sunday.

Chief Inspector Asare said on the said 28th of April 2002, whilst the church was in session, the four accused persons forced their way into the chapel and Pastor Cobbina allegedly went and sat on the pastor's seat with Nkansah sitting on an elder's seat.

He said the action of the four disrupted the service so a report was made to the police for their arrest.

Meanwhile, the tribunal, chaired by Mr. William Boampng, has granted ?800,000 bail to each of the accused to appear at a later date.