Christians mark Easter with calls for commitment, sacrifices

Christians across the country joined the rest of the world to celebrate Easter, the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The festivities began with the solemn observance of Good Friday, which symbolises the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, a landmark event that is believed to have brought redemption to mankind.

This year’s Easter was climaxed with resurrection services by various churches across the country last Sunday.

Metropolitan Archbishop of Accra

At the Holy Spirit Cathedral in Accra, the Metropolitan Archbishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Accra, Most Rev. John Bonaventure Kwofie, called on President John Mahama to honour his commitment to eradicate illegal mining within his first 120 days in office.

In his Easter Sunday homily, Archbishop Kwofie said: “Over 100 days have passed since the President’s inauguration, leaving less than 20 days to fulfil the promise”.

He said the Catholic Church was concerned about galamsey activities, saying “we take this promise seriously because galamsey is killing us. 120 days, yes, you crossed the 100 line a few days ago, and you are left with less than 20 days”.

The Archbishop reminded the President that he was voted into office because of his stance on galamsey and other evils that plagued the country.

“In fact, you displayed the high ethical standard we need in our politics in Ghana.

We think you can do it,” he said.

Speaking on the transformative power of the resurrection, the Archbishop said that the death of Christ represented the era of injustice, wickedness, infidelity and disrespect, while his resurrection gave way to justice, respect for one another, and faithfulness in everything.

Accra

At the Abundant Life Centre of The Lord’s Pentecostal Church International (TLPCI) in Accra, members, mostly clad in their 55th anniversary cloth, danced and sang praises to God to climax their Easter Convention.

In a sermon, the former General Overseer of TLPCI, Apostle Richard Buafor, said the events of Easter were very significant to Christians as they formed the foundation of their faith — the death, burial, resurrection and ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ.

"The scriptures say that if there is no resurrection, then there is no gospel.

"His grave is empty and that is the good news we proclaim, that He ever liveth to make intercession for us," he said.

The Chairman of the Ghana National Council of the Great Commission Church International (GCCI), Apostle Dr Samuel Vincent Ansah, also described Easter as a time for reflection on the sacrifices of God the Father, and His Son Jesus Christ.

“The father sacrificed His only begotten Son. The only begotten was ready to be a sacrifice. The father was ready to bear the pain of sacrifice. The son was ready to bear the pain of sacrifice.

“Through the sacrifices of the father and son, God continues to have innumerable children,” he said.

The chairman said no person, no family, no tribe, no nation nor race could achieve greatness beyond the quality of their sacrifices.

He said the quality of life and achievements “we have today as a nation have been fuelled by the sacrifices of our fathers and mothers of yesteryears.

“The quality of life and achievements that our nation will enjoy tomorrow will be fuelled by the toils of those of us privileged by divine providence to be Ghanaians today,” the chairman added.

Situation

Apostle Ansah described happenings in the country such as corruption, lies, accusations and counter-accusations, including acrimony and indiscipline in educational institutions, as not accidents but the yields of bad seeds that had been sown, intentionally or unintentionally, as a people.

“First, we need to identify those things that hurt the welfare and development of our nation and stop doing them.

In respect of that, the checks and balances that relate to the executive, legislative and the judicial arms of government should be religiously observed. 

“However, of all the challenges that Ghana faces today, galamsey had the potential to undo all the gains of the nation and bring us to zero.

We must do our utmost, not just to say no to it but stop it completely,” he said.

“Finally, the big lesson of Easter is sacrifice.

As a nation, our future welfare and greatness will be determined by the high-quality sacrifices we make today,” the chairman said.