Ghana Baptist Convention to host major international conference

Accra, May 31, GNA - The Ghana Baptist Convention (GBC) on Thursday announced that it would host this year's annual general gathering of the Baptist World Alliance (BWA) slated for July 1-8 at three different venues in Accra.

Rev. Dr. Nii Amoo-Darku, Vice President of the GBC, told journalists in Accra that Ghana was the first country south of the Sahara to play host to the gathering, which would bring at least 500 participants from Australia, Europe, the Americas, New Zealand, the Caribbean and Africa.

He said Ghana was selected because of her effective role in the BWA, proven competence in hosting other conferences and also in recognition of Ghana's Golden Jubilee celebrations. Dr Amoo-Darko said the core activities of the conference would include a reconciliatory service on Thursday July 5, 2007 to commemorate the abolition of the Slave Trade some 200 years ago, a crusade at the Independence Square on July 6 and a cultural night at the University of Ghana, Legon on July 7.

He said the three core activities would be preceded by a medical mission outreach to Agbogbloshie in Accra, a nationwide environmental awareness campaign by the Baptist Men's Ministry, donations to charity by the Women's Missionary Union and a float.

Dr Amoo-Darku said the conference would attract more than just pastors and persons with religious concerns but would also bring in persons with business interests who had expressed interest in taking advantage of the conducive political and economic climate in Ghana to form partnership with local businesses for investment. The occasion would also be used to elect the new General Secretaries for both the BWA and All Africa Baptist Fellowship. "The meeting would afford us the opportunity for interaction and fellowship, business and decision making on issues relevant to the Baptist faith and world peace," he said.

He urged the media to continue to practice their profession and exercise their privileged position in a manner that would ensure that the peace that Ghana currently enjoyed was consolidated for the country to continue to hold its gateway position in Africa. The Rev. Samuel Otu-Pimpong, President of the Baptist Ministers' Conference, Ghana said the conference would also focus on the issue of ethics and corruption with the view to have an impact national policy on the two issues.

"We also have for the first time the many sponsors of our anti-Trokosi campaign coming to see the nature of Trokosi for themselves and we trust that they would decide to increase the level of their sponsorship when they see the enormity of the challenge." The BWA is the grouping of all major Baptist denominations all over the world, who subscribe to the same principles of the Christian faith. It is a fellowship of more than 200 Baptist Conventions and unions comprising a membership of more than 36 million baptized believers and a community of more than 110 million Baptists worldwide. 31 May 07