IGP lays foundation stone for SDA police church
The Ghana Police Service and the Seventh-Day Adventist Church (SDA) have laid the foundation stone for the country's first SDA Police Church at the National Police Training School at Tesano, Accra.
The church building, expected to be completed within 18 months, will have a capacity of 1,300 worshippers.
The construction is expected to cost GH¢4.5 million.
The multi-level structure will have offices, restrooms, a kitchen, technical rooms, among others.
The foundation stone was laid by the Inspector General of Police, Christian Tetteh Yohuno, supported by the Chaplain General of the Ghana Police Service, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Very Rev. Fr George Arthur; the President of the Southern Ghana Union Conference of the SDA, Pastor Dr Thomas Techie Ocran; the President of the Mid-Ghana Union Conference, Pastor Dr Kwame Annor-Boahen; the Accra City Conference President, Pastor Dr Solomon Okoe Trebi Hammond and the Church Pastor of the Police Depot SDA, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Samuel Danso Marfo.
Context
After the induction of the first Adventist pastor in the police chaplaincy in 2023, the Ghana Police Service gave a portion of land at the National Police Training School to build a befitting place for Adventist worshippers.
The Chaplaincy General of the Ghana Police Service gave assurance of the Police Service’s commitment to the welfare of its officers, both physically and spiritually.
He stated that the approval for the project had already been granted and that he looked forward to seeing the completion of the first Adventist Police Church in Ghana.
Very Rev. Fr Arthur said Muslims and Catholics had completed their places of worship, while they were yet to see the first SDA Police Church in Ghana.
He said it was, therefore, important to them to make sure that the church building was done as scheduled.
Pastor Dr Boahen, in a sermon, urged the congregation to represent the body of believers and the body of Jesus Christ, insisting that it was the Lord’s house they were building.
He indicated that He who created all things out of nothing was able to build the temple on His foundation.
Therefore, with toil through humans, he said, He would accomplish it.
He encouraged the congregation to support the work of God at all times to receive the Lord’s blessing, saying the Lord loves a cheerful giver.
Pastor Dr Ocran expressed gratitude to the police administration for the gesture and encouraged all Adventist members and the public to contribute to the building project.
He highlighted the challenges faced by service personnel and the importance of providing a place of worship to support their spiritual well-being.
ASP Marfo said the church would provide a welcoming space for police recruits and church members to worship and find comfort, as well as bring hope and inspiration to the police administration and the community upon completion.
The project aims to provide a dedicated space for SDA members in the Police Service to worship and support the police administration.
