Internationally renowned evangelist Andrew Palau has said no individual is beyond the transforming power of the gospel, drawing on his personal experience of overcoming alcohol and drug addiction as a young man.

Speaking at a press conference at the Lancaster Hotel in Kumasi, Palau recounted how his life took a turning point in 1993, when he was 27 years old and surrendered to Christ during an open-air festival.

The evangelist, who has led evangelistic crusades across Africa, Europe, Asia and the Americas for more than 25 years, said the message that transformed his life could also help address substance abuse, youth hopelessness and other social challenges confronting urban communities such as Kumasi.

“The gospel of Jesus Christ has the power to transform lives, restore hope, and deliver people from destructive addictions and lifestyles,” Palau said.

He expressed hope that his personal testimony would inspire young people struggling with addiction and encourage them to seek help and embrace positive change.

Palau rallies churches for Love Ghana First Festival

Palau’s call for personal and social transformation comes ahead of the Love Ghana First Festival, scheduled for October 24 and 25, 2026, at the Kumasi Racecourse.

He urged churches across the Ashanti Region to set aside denominational differences and unite behind the initiative, which aims to reach more than two million people across Greater Kumasi with the message of salvation.

According to Palau, the two-day open-air event is intended for everyone, regardless of religious background, socioeconomic status or personal circumstances.

“We want every single soul of this city, whether those living on the streets or those in corporate business leadership to feel a warm welcome and join us at the festival,” he said.

He also called on the media to help publicise the event and reach young people and other vulnerable groups across the metropolis.

Festival to combine evangelism with social interventions

The Vice Chairman of the Festival’s Advisory Board and Ashanti Regional Chairman of the Christian Council of Ghana, Rev. Dr Seth Frimpong Coleman, described the festival as a comprehensive city transformation project rather than a routine religious gathering.

He said the October 24 and 25 event would climax a six-day gospel movement launched in June 2026, which seeks to demonstrate Christian values through practical social interventions alongside evangelism.

According to Coleman, outreach teams and participating churches will undertake several humanitarian activities in the days leading up to the main festival.

These will include free eye clinics, medical screenings and targeted outreach programmes for inmates, orphanages and street-connected children.

Educational activities will also feature prominently, with participating groups expected to organise evangelistic programmes and mentorship sessions in basic, secondary and tertiary institutions, as well as outreach activities in market centres.

The programme will further include youth sports tournaments, breakfast meetings for business executives, special gatherings for women and family entertainment sessions.

Christian groups unite behind initiative

Coleman said the initiative had brought together several major Christian organisations in what he described as a united effort to address Kumasi’s spiritual and socioeconomic challenges.

The participating bodies include the Christian Council of Ghana (CCG), the Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council (GPCC), the Catholic Secretariat, the Anglican Secretariat, the Seventh-day Adventist Church (SDA) and the National Association of Charismatic and Christian Churches (NACCC).

He said the collaboration demonstrated the importance of unity among Christian organisations in responding to challenges affecting communities.

“This historic collaboration demonstrates the deep unity underpinning the festival. Kumasi needs such cooperation to address the spiritual and social challenges confronting our city. We are confident this movement will inspire our youth to turn away from drug abuse, promote family reconciliation, and foster lasting peace,” Coleman said.

The organisers say the festival will combine evangelism, community outreach and humanitarian activities in an effort to promote hope, reconciliation and positive social change across Greater Kum