Former German President Mr Christian Wulff has held a bilateral meeting with Apostle Eric Nyamekye, Chairman of The Church of Pentecost and President of the Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council (GPCC).
The meeting took place at the Movenpick Ambassador Hotel in Accra during Mr Wulff’s visit to Ghana for the investiture of President John Dramani Mahama on Tuesday, January 7, 2025. Present at the hour-long discussion were Apostle Prof. Kwabena Agyapong-Kodua (Vice Chancellor of Pentecost University), Pastor Benedict Eghan (Personal Assistant to the Chairman), and Mr Daniel Krull (German Ambassador to Ghana), along with Mr Wulff’s aide.
The meeting focused on the interplay between religion and governance in Ghana, with an emphasis on the role of The Church of Pentecost in shaping societal values, fostering peace, and promoting accountability.
A key focus of the meeting was the role of the Church in national development. Apostle Nyamekye highlighted the importance of moral values in governance, referencing the 2023 National Development Conference organised by The Church of Pentecost. The conference brought together key stakeholders, including the then Vice President, former presidents, including the current president; Speaker of Parliament, and civil society leaders, to deliberate on the need for a moral vision to drive Ghana’s development.
Both leaders agreed that societies that distance themselves from religious values face significant challenges. Mr Wulff cited Hartmut Rosa’s book, ‘Democracy Needs Religion,’ to emphasise the essential role of faith in governance.
The discussions also touched on the importance of peaceful coexistence among Ghanaians. Concerns about terrorism in neighbouring countries were raised, with Apostle Nyamekye recounting efforts by Christian leaders to educate their communities ahead of the 2024 general elections, discouraging any form of religious polarisation.
Other areas of discussion included Ghana’s economic prospects, global politics, religious tolerance, and the need for enhanced international cooperation on migration and trade.
Apostle Nyamekye also updated Mr Wulff on The Church of Pentecost’s contributions to national development, particularly in health and education. He highlighted the European Union’s €5 million grant, facilitated through the KfW Development Bank, for the construction of an Engineering Village, and a €1 million scholarship fund for master’s and PhD programmes in Engineering at the Pentecost University. The Chairman expressed gratitude to the German Government and the European Union for their support in these initiatives.
The meeting marked a significant step toward strengthening ties between The Church of Pentecost, Germany, and the European Union in governance, faith, and development. It followed an earlier engagement between Apostle Nyamekye and Mr Daniel Krull in December 2024. Both leaders underscored the importance of intentional efforts to cultivate these relationships for sustained progress. It further underscored the pivotal role of faith-based organisations in governance and development, setting the foundation for enhanced collaboration in the future.
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