Vice President Amissah Arthur (2nd left) together with some dignitaries on the dais, dancing during the service. Those in the picture include the Chief Justice, Justice Geogina Theodora Wood (3rd left), Mr Joe Ghartey (left), MP for Essikadu-Ketan, and Lawyer Sam Okudzeto (2nd right).

Vice President lauds Bible Society of Ghana

Ann Adjasah Feb - 09 - 2015 , 09:42

The Vice-President, Mr Kwesi Bekoe Amissah-Arthur, has lauded the works of the Bible Society of Ghana (BSG) in translating the Bible into different Ghanaian languages and making it affordable to all.

According to him, the work done by the BSG had enabled majority of Ghanaian households to own at least a copy of the bible in one of the eight Ghanaian languages, which it had been translated into.

Mr Amissah-Arthur, who was speaking at the 50th anniversary celebration of the BSG in Accra yesterday, said the bible continued to have profound impact on the moral, spiritual and political life of the country.

For this, he said the BSG, which was committed to increasing the impact of the bible by making it easily available and affordable, encouraged its use to transform the lives of people.

Mr Amissah-Arthur paid glowing tribute to the BSG for putting the bible in the hands of the vast majority of people.

He implored the BSG to continue to impact positively on the spiritual and moral lives of people.

Mr Amissah-Arthur, who was accompanied by the Chief Justice, Mrs Georgina Theodora Wood, and the Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Mr Joe Ghartey, signed the 50th anniversary Bible presented by the BSG.

Religion

Mr Amissah-Arthur said that it was almost impossible to comment on the Bible, faith and salvation and not mention the anxiety about the acts of intolerance, brutality and gratuitous violence being carried out in the name of religion in parts of West Africa and the Middle East.

Although religion had inspired deeds of great compassion, he stated that it had also been used to justify many murderous acts.

“It is my prayer that the selflessness and tolerance taught by the great religions may inspire acts of kindness to people who profess different faiths so that we can continue to pursue happiness in our diversity,” he added.

Agents of transformation

The President of the BSG, Rev Prof. Emmanuel Asante, said the BSG, which was established in 1965 by the churches in Ghana,aimed at translating the Bible from its original languages such as Hebrew and Latin into Ghanaian languages.

He stated that the BSG, which worked hand in hand with the churches, encouraged people to use the local language bibles to transform their lives and in turn act as agents of transformation in their communities.

Professor Asante urged the churches to continue to support the BSG in propagating the Word, for it was the only tool that could be used to transform the nation.