The District Minister of Koforidua Ascension Congregation of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Rev. Justice Kwame Asumeng, has rebuked Ghanaians for being ungrateful to God for protecting the country from the severe scourge of COVID-19 pandemic which has affected the global economy.
Government has blamed Ghana’s struggling economic situation on COVID-19 and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The Country is currently seeking a $3 billion IMF bailout loan to revive the debt distressed economy unleashing hardship on Ghanaians.
However, the Presbyterian Minister says Ghana was not much affected by the COVID-19 pandemic compared to other countries and therefore must be grateful to God for his kindness.
He recounted his personal experience in the UK where it got to a point people were queueing for basic essentials such as water.
“Thank God, it has been about five months now since I came from the UK. We queued for water. Did you queue to buy water during covid pandemic? Ungrateful people. Covid in the UK over 300,000 people died.
“How many people died in Ghana?[ I’m not preaching politics, I’m preaching to the people of Ghana]. Let us be grateful to God. In Ghana, we don’t have national planes. Go to Gatwick, go to Heathrow, over 3,000 airlines were brought to their knees. What have we lost as a nation? Just because of a little hunger.
“But in Ghana, you can get nkomtomire (Taro leaves) in your backyard, get abeduru (Turkey berry), and get food. Oh God! Forgive us [Ghanaians] our sins, we are ungrateful. Some countries are facing severe drought. In Ghana, the sun is shining but we still get taro leaves to buy in the market, you will get snails. Ghanaians are ungrateful,” Rev. Asumeng said.
He said this when the New Juaben traditional council in collaboration with Koforidua Local Council of Churches, Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council, as well as other churches in the traditional area, held a thanksgiving service on Sunday, March 12, 2023.
Rev. Asumeng charged people at top positions to remember their past to encourage them to serve the people well to alleviate poverty among the populace.
He assured Omanhene Daasebre Kwaku Boateng III, that just as God prepared David to lead his people, so as he has been prepared to lead New Juaben into the path of development and growth.
Omanhene of New Juaben Daasebre Kwaku Boateng III reiterated his call for sustained unity to create the enabling environment for development.
Municipal Chief Executive for New Juaben, Ike Appaw Gyasi, who spoke on behalf of the Eastern Regional Minister, Seth Kwame Acheampong, urged residents of New Juaben to take advantage of the free senior high school policy to provide their children with quality education.
He said Technical and Vocational education has received a major boost from the government to provide skills training to the youth to curb the high rate of unemployment.
In attendance at the Thanksgiving service were Muslim chiefs, Divisional and Sub-chiefs, Pastors, Bishops, Gabby Asare Okyere-Darko and his wife as well members of the various churches.