Two hundred and thirty chiefs and royals in Nzemaland participated in the maiden Cheiftaincy seminar organised by the Axim Area of The Church of Pentecost.
The programme took place on Tuesday, November 28, 2023, at the Nzema Manle Community Centre near Esiama in the Ellembelle District in the Western Region of Ghana.
Held under the leadership of the Area Head, Apostle Daniel Mireku Gyamera, the seminar aimed at bridging the gap between the Chieftaincy institution and the Church.
The seminar was graced by the National Cheiftaincy Ministry Coordinator, Apostle Vincent Anane Denteh, who also serves as an Executive Council Member and the Director of the Men’s Ministry of The Church of Pentecost.
Espousing the mission and the vision statements of the Chieftaincy Ministry of The Church of Pentecost to the participants, Apostle Vincent Anane Denteh noted that the ministry has a mission to reach out to royals for Christ to transform society and also equip Christian royals with godly virtues, Kingdom values and principles, to influence their communities.
He highlighted integrity, fairness, justice honesty, faithfulness and loyalty, among others as virtues that need to be embraced by royals and stakeholders to propel and facilitate the achievement of the mission, vision and objectives of the ministry.
The National Coordinator further stated that traditional leadership is a unique institution and the church needs to understand its traditional principles to make maximum impact in the palace.
In his view, there is a need to create synergy between the Church and the palace as they both work together to address the problems of society.
The evolution of chieftaincy in Ghana was another area the National Coordinator shed light on.
He explained that the Chieftaincy institution for decades has moved from unstructured to structured, with the Mole-Dagbon kingdom as the pioneer of this drive.
According to him, the development of African societies largely depends on the leadership of the chiefs; acting as captains during wars, rescuing their people, enforcing unity, law and order, and consolidating these developments in their jurisdictions.
Apostle Anane Denteh also succinctly talked about the symbols of authority in Ghanaian chiefdom, where he revealed that the stool and the skin symbolises the soul of the community, unity, and divine leadership, among others.
The sword, he noted, is a symbol of strength and power, whilst the drum is a medium of communication and musical instrument, adding that the type of the drum depicts the ethnic identity of the people.
Apostle Anane Denteh further submitted that chiefs possess authority, yet they acknowledge the supreme authority of God.
“Conviction without conversion is dangerous. Given this, chiefs and royals must be guided on the right approach to God,” he advised.
Apostle Vincent Anane Denteh touched on the legal aspects of Chieftaincy in Ghana regarding Act 270 of the 1992 Constitution and Chieftaincy Act 759 (2008) which establishes and regulates the institution and conduct of chiefs.
He stressed that, according to the constitutional provision, Chiefs are not to take part in active (partisan) politics and that anyone who desires to do so must abdicate his throne. He, however, clarified that the laws of the country allow for a chief to be appointed to any public office for which he qualifies.
Apostle Daniel Mireku Gyamera also addressed the gathering during the event.
Reading from 2 Chronicles 17:3-13, he posited that God established the kingdom of King Jehoshaphat and made Judah prosper under his kingship because he received the law of God and also appointed priests and godly people to teach the law of God throughout the kingdom of Judah.
This, he said, was because Jehoshaphat was obedient to God and very committed to Him.
“He allowed the law of God to transform his kingdom by not continuing in the sins of his fathers but committed his life to the most high God,” he said.
The Axim Area Head, therefore, advised the chiefs and royals to open their palaces and communities to Jesus and also embrace the gospel themselves for God to establish their kingdoms and prosper their jurisdictions during their reign.
“When you this, the Lord Himself will protect and deliver you from every spiritual attack and make your name great on the land,” he assured.
In turn, Nana Kofi Bonya VI, Chief of Baseke and a National Executive Committee member of the Chieftaincy Ministry, also advised traditional leaders to see ministers as development partners, urging that some communal activities should be channelled through the church.
He observed that, in contemporary times, people are loyal to their religion or faith and tend to listen to their religious leaders more than the traditional leaders.
There is therefore the need to bridge the gap between the palace and the church for community development, he added.
On behalf of the participants, Awulae Agyefi Kwame II, the Paramount Chief of Lower Town Axim and Nsein Traditional Area, expressed deep appreciation to the church for its swift response to the plights of chiefs.
He also said the Church should not relent from visiting their palaces, saying: “We also want to make it to heaven.”
Awulae Agyefi encouraged the royals and traditional leaders to engage the ministers and Church leaders for their inputs and opinions regarding the development of their jurisdictions.
Apostle Daniel Mireku Gyamera, then, led all the ministers present to pray for the chiefs and royals for divine protection and for their hearts to be opened to the gospel.
In attendance were prominent chiefs and royals from the various traditional areas in the Nzema land and the Axim Area pastorate, including Pastor Francis K. Amewondey, a National Executive Committee Member of the Cheiftaincy Ministry and the Axim Area Chieftaincy Ministry Coordinator.
Also present were Mrs. Martha Denteh (Wife of the National Coordinator) and Mrs. Evelyn Selasi Mireku Gyamerah (Wife of the Axim Area Head).
Report by Axim Area Media Team.