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Regional News of Monday, 17 March 2003

Source: gna

Apostles' Continuation Church gets new leader

Duayaw-Nkwanta (Brong Ahafo) --Apostle Clement Brakatu, 51 was on Sunday inducted into office as the new Chairman of Apostle's Continuation Church.

He took over from Apostle General Emmanuel Kwadwo Owusu, 71, Founder of the church, who relinquished the position due to old age. Speaking at the induction service at Duayaw Nkwanta in the Brong Ahafo Region, at which five pastors were also ordained, Yaw Adjei-Duffuor, Deputy Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, called on the leadership of religious bodies to spearhead the crusade against indiscipline

He said indiscipline had so permeated the fabric of the Ghanaian society to a level that it had become cancerous and "we will need divine intervention through our pulpits, mosques and other religious platforms to save our dear nation".

Adjei-Duffuor commended the church for the "epoch-making" and exemplary event, saying: "It is very rare for a living leader to relinquish his position in our society, as succession disputes have become a problem in almost every facet of our lives as Ghanaians.

"Such disputes smack of indiscipline as witnessed in churches, our homes, traditional set ups, groups, associations and at our workplaces," he said. The Deputy Minister noted that disputes that had characterized succession to stools and skins were all rooted in indiscipline "because people who do not have any right to the position want it, by hook or by crook because of either their wealth, influence or some power".

Adjei-Duffuor expressed regret that such indiscipline had characterized past governance, which led to misrule and its concomitant adverse effects on the country's development and the life of the people.

He noted that in spite of the proliferation of churches in the country, criminal activities and misdeeds, which all stemmed from indiscipline, were rife and urged the new leader of the church, Apostle Brakatu to see his new position as a challenge to seek the welfare of the congregation and the growth of the church.

Adjei-Duffuor urged church leaders to educate their members on government policies and programmes so that they could understand and contribute to their implementation for national progress.

Apostle General Owusu, who inducted Apostle Brakatu into office, advised him to seek the welfare of members of the church since he had been made a leader to become a servant of the people.

Apostle Brakatu, who was until his appointment the head pastor of the church in Toronto, Canada, gave the assurance that he would work to maintain the spiritual authority and doctrines of the church to facilitate its expansion.