Posts in category: Top Stories

Pentecost University has won prestigious awards in five different categories in one night. This happened during the 2021 Private University Students Association of Ghana (PUSAG) Excellence Awards which took place at the National Theatre in Accra on Saturday, July 10, 2021.

It was attended by the Deputy Minister of Education, Hon. John Ntim Fordjour; former Minister of Education in charge of Tertiary Education, Prof. Kwesi Yankah; former Minister of Trade and Industry, Dr. Ekow Spio Gabrah, and other dignitaries.

At the ceremony, Pentecost University was awarded the “Most Innovative Private University of the Year.” According to the organizers, this award was largely based on experiences and opportunities for students. They said the University’s ability to digitize its entire application process, fee payment and other salient operations within one year have greatly improved students’ experience.

They also cited the paid vacation job concept the university has rolled out, which is the first in Ghana, for its students as very innovative. These including the tremendous increase in enrolment at the university make it the obvious choice for the award.

Apart from the Most Innovative Private University award, PU’s Department of Nursing and Midwifery was adjudged the overall best among the Nursing training institutions in the country. This award was attributed to the facilities, faculty of the PU Nursing and Midwifery department and the incremental pass rate of the nursing and midwifery students at the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Ghana’s licensure examinations.

This is the second time the department has won the coveted award, having been adjudged the “Overall Best” among both public and private Universities at the 2019 UMB Bank Tertiary Awards. On the same night, PUSAG also adjudged the Department of Information Technology as the best in the year.

At the same ceremony, the Vice-Chancellor of Pentecost University Rev. Prof. Kwabena Agyapong-Kodua was awarded the “Most Innovative Vice-Chancellor of the Year.” The selection for this award according to PUSAG was based on his leadership in driving the innovations that are transforming student experiences in Pentecost University.

Not only that, Pentecost University was adjudged the “Most Vibrant Private University on Digital Media.” This award was attributed to the consistent release of information by the university through digital platforms such as social media and the University’s website. This they said allows the student to access useful information on their phones with ease.

Additionally, a total of nine students won various awards at the student’s level. A PU students’ media organization, Oboo TV, was also adjudged the “Students Media Group of the Year.”

Receiving the awards on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor, the Chief Information Officer Mr. Michael WK. Gyimah thanked The Church of Pentecost for the continuous support to the University. He also dedicated them to the staff, students, alumni and friends of the Pentecost University.

Source: PENTVARS

As part of the “Possessing the Nations” agenda of The Church of Pentecost, the Pentecost International Worship Centre (PIWC), Takoradi, has donated assorted items to the tune of GHS 10,000.00 to the Sekondi School for the Deaf.

At a brief presentation ceremony held at the school on Sunday, July 4, 2021, the staff and students expressed their sincere gratitude to the Church for the act.

The items included bags of rice, maize, sugar, bottled and sachet water, cooking oil, mackerels, drinks, crates of eggs, packets of biscuits, among others.

Receiving the items on behalf of the management of the school, the Assistant Headmistress in charge of Administration, Mrs. Joyce Ama Polley, was grateful to PIWC-Takoradi for the kind gesture.

The Assistant Headmaster of the school, Mr. Abraham Ponney, on his part, applauded the Church for the thoughtful initiative of reaching out to the inmates of the school.

He used the opportunity to encourage the general public, religious institutions, and corporate bodies to come to the aid of the school.

The Resident Minister of the PIWC-Takorade, Pastor Daniel Okyei Boakye, in a short exhortation, said that since God is love, He expects His children to demonstrate His kind of love to the world.

He admonished Christians to show love to others whenever they get the opportunity to do so. “In the Possessing the Nations agenda, the love of Christ must be demonstrated to all people irrespective of their health condition, race, colour, or ethnic group,” he affirmed.

Report by Pastor Ernest Perbi-Asare – Assakae District.

A mammoth gathering of bereaved relations, ministers and members of The Church of Pentecost as well as staff and students of Pentecost University thronged the funeral grounds of the late Pastor Jonathan Kofie on Saturday, July 17, 2021, to bid their final farewell to the departed minister.

Until his sudden home-call on June 20, 2021, Pastor Jonathan, 43, served as the Dean of Students  at the Pentecost University and the Resident Minister of Pentecost International Worship Centre in the Odorkor Area (PIWC-Odorkor).

Comforting the grieving crowd, the Chairman of the church, Apostle Eric Nyamekye, reiterated the need for Christians to be hopeful in the resurrection, stating that: “Long life is the desire of all, but a life that is well-lived does not depend on how long one lived on earth.”

Touching on the impact of Jesus’ short ministry on earth, he noted that “Jesus’ 33 years of a good and purposeful life has changed humanity forever. His death was the most tragic. His (death) was a gruesome murder that was well-planned and pre-meditated. The heavens stood still and looked on as they tortured and killed him. He was buried because he died. But on the third day, he rose from the dead.

“Who would have thought that his death would bring salvation to humanity. He saves in death and after death. His resurrection is the hope of our calling. It is the foundation of the Gospel we preach. Take it out and our gospel has no value. But thank God, that Christ has, indeed, been raised from the dead.”

He further noted that God’s order of resurrection began with Jesus as the first fruit of all to taste the resurrection; after Him would come those who have gone to be with the Lord, followed by those who Jesus will come to meet alive on His return. Stressing that, “If Christ resurrected, then we also shall resurrect. This is the hope we have!”

Exhorting the gathering on the topic: “God is faithful,” which was inspired from Luke 24:13ff, the Kasoa Area Head, Apostle Ekow Badu Wood, urged Christians not to be perturbed by life’s challenges, but to keep their focus on God because He is always faithful and to trust that He will be with them in all circumstances.

He, therefore, encouraged all gathered, especially the bereaved family, to have faith in the Lord and trust that even in this difficult time Jesus is still with them.

The General Council, in a tribute, read by Apostle Dr. Daniel Okyere Walker (Executive Council Member and Tarkwa Area Head) described Pastor Jonathan Kofie “as a gallant soldier who executed his numerous tasks with diligence, total devotion and alacrity.  He was organised, a man of vision, focused, result-oriented, hard-working, humble, bold, approachable and a team player.

“His loyalty to the church and respect for authority was without question. This was particularly evident in his strict adherence to policies and decisions of the Executive and General Councils as well as his strong knowledge and avid application of the Pentecostal liturgy. We testify that these few years of his ministry were impactful and fruitful. He served meritoriously as a pastor, a Children’s Ministry worker, and also as a lecturer and Dean of Students’ Affairs at Pentecost University,” it further read.

The widow, Mrs Regina Kofie, and children, Pentecost University, PIWC-Odorkor also took turns to eulogise the departed minister in emotional tributes.

Among the dignitaries present at the event were the General Secretary, Apostle Alexander Nana Yaw Kumi-Larbi, Apostle Emmanuel Gyesi Addo (International Missions Director), as well as some Executive Council Members, namely, Apostle Isaac Nii Kotei-Djani (Techiman Area Head), Prophet David Kankam Beditor (Ashaiman Area Head), Apostle Mike Etrue (Kaneshie Area Head), Apostle Dr. Dela Quampah (Ho Area Head). Also, present were Prophet James O. Amaniampong (Asokwa Area Head), Apostle Patrick Aseyoro (Odorkor Area Head) and  Apostle Prof. K. Agyapong Kodua (Vice-Chancellor, Pentecost University), among several others.

Pastor Jonathan Kofie was called into the full-time pastoral ministry of The Church of Pentecost in 2006 and served in the following districts: Potsin District (Winneba Area), Winneba District (Winneba Area), PIWC-Sakumono (Teshie-Nungua Area), Achimota District (Achimota Area) and PIWC Odorkor (Odorkor Area).

He is survived by a wife and five children.

PENTECOST NEWS

Ministers of The Church of Pentecost have been encouraged to make it a habit of planting and nurturing trees as part of their day-to-day activities. 

This appeal was made by the General Secretary, Apostle Alexander Kumi-Larbi, when he planted a tree at the premises of the Bolgatanga Central Assembly on Friday, June 25, 2021, as part of a three-day duty visit to the Upper East Region.

During his visit, the General Secretary saw to the planting of nine trees, three of which he planted himself. 

In addition to the tree he planted at Bolga, Apostle Kumi-Larbi planted two others at the premises of the Pentecost Clinic at Kultamise and on the 10-acre farmland acquired by the church for irrigation farming at Ankpaliga, near Zebila.

Apostles Sylvester Arhin (Tamale Area Head and Executive Council Member), Wilberforce Nkrumah Agyemang (Bolgatanga Area Head), Apostle Eric Boateng (Bawku Area Head), Apostle William Ohemeng-Kwakye (Sawla Area Head) and Pastor Emmanuel Aidoo (Yendi Area Head) also took turns to plant trees.

He encouraged the ministers to make it a habit of planting more trees and nurture them.

“I have already planted seven trees. Now every opportunity I get, I plant a tree. At any function I attend, I make it a point to plant a tree. It is possible. So, I encourage every minister, especially those on the field, to do well to plant and nurture more trees,” he said.

The General Secretary’s call is in support of the church’s environmental care campaign for this year which focuses on tree planting. In line with this year’s campaign, the church has initiated an audacious vision to plant one million trees nationwide and nurture them. The exercise coincided with the tree-planting drive of the government, which also sought to plant and nurture five million trees across the nation.

According to a report released by the World Resources Institute (WRI) in 2019, Ghana is losing its rainforest faster than any country in the world. This alarming situation is largely caused by human activities. 

To forestall this problem, the church has embarked on a tree-planting drive to plant and nurture 1 million trees across the nation. The objective of this exercise is to motivate people to plant trees and increase awareness about the importance of trees.

It is also to create a sense of responsibility among people to nurture trees and to motivate communities and churches to actively participate in the protection and preservation of the environment.

PENTECOST NEWS

Ghana has made significant progress in extending electricity access across the country, particularly the rural areas. However, the recently published Ghana Living Standards Survey (Ghana Statistical Service, 2019) indicates that regions in the northern parts of the country have much lower access to electricity, compared to regions in the southern parts of the country.

One of the communities in the northern part of the country that is yet to be connected to the national grid is Kultamise, a farming community in the Pusiga district in the Upper East Region. Time and time again, efforts made by the residents to connect to the national grid have proved futile.

After several attempts, the community came closest to achieving electrification in 2012 and even had its electrical poles erected and cables laid through to other electrified communities like Pusiga. Unfortunately, the project stalled leaving the community sandwiched between two electrified communities – Pusiga and Nware.

Inhabitants of the community depend on neighbouring communities for electricity access to recharge mobile phones, and or engage in recreational activities such as watching football matches, etc. at a fee.

About 21 months ago, The Church of Pentecost, through its social services arm, Pentecost Social Services (PENTSOS), in consultation with the Pusiga District Health Office and the District Chief Executive (DCE) of Pusiga, cut sod for the commencement of a clinic facility to help meet the healthcare challenges of the Kultamise community.

In times past, residents of Kultamise and its surrounding towns have gone through dire ordeals in accessing quality healthcare. The situation has contributed to worsening the plight of pregnant women, especially when in labour as their spouses had to carry them on their back or motorbikes to cross a river to access healthcare in Pusiga.

The construction of the clinic was, therefore, an intervention by the church to provide a health facility that can serve the community and its environs, particularly in helping to reduce maternal and child mortality in the Pusiga District.

The project, which was constructed under the supervision of the Estate Department at the church’s Headquarters, and the Bawku Area Estate Committee, was successfully executed and commissioned on Thursday, June 24, 2021.

The ultramodern edifice, estimated at GH¢ 850,000.00, has a fully furnished Out-Patient Department (OPD), Male and Female Wards, Delivery Ward, Dispensary, Washrooms for both patients and staff, Laboratory, and Consulting rooms as well as residential accommodation for health officers.

Strongly moved by the church’s gesture, Hon. Alhassan Zubeiru, the DCE of Pusiga, pledged to ensure that the community is connected to the national grid before the commissioning of the clinic. This was partly because of the ultramodern medical equipment fitted into the clinic facility, most of which would require electricity to operate to serve the health needs of the people better.

With this renewed optimism, the DCE charged the ECG Office in the Pusiga district to do whatever it took to provide electricity access to the community before the commissioning.

The ECG team responded positively to the DCE’s directive and commenced work. All things seemed to be going according to plan but a day to commissioning it the work suffered a major setback late in the night. The transformer that was to distribute power to the community was unable to support the electricity load being generated. After several consultations, the only alternative was to get a new outlet to supply the community with electricity. However, this new process would mean installing a new transformer to create a new access point.

United towards this common objective, the youth of the community willingly offered to assist the officials to dig holes for the installation of the transformers. Working throughout the night into the D-day, the team, with the support of the residents, succeeded in providing electricity for the community after a very “long” wait.

Indeed, life in Kultamise will never be the same again and Thursday, June 24, 2021, will remain one of the most memorable days in the history of the community. For on this day, the people received a double blessing – an ultramodern health facility and access to electricity. The spiritual implication of this is that the people of Kultamise have received a divine visitation. The presence of the church in this Muslim-dominated community is also an indication that a seed of the gospel of Jesus, the light of the world, has successfully been sown and would soon flourish and lead many into His saving knowledge. For we are very convinced that it is no coincidence that on the very day that The Church of Pentecost came to town, light shone around. To God be the Glory!

PENTECOST NEWS.

The Wa Area Head of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Daniel Nii Tetteh Tackie, on June 12, 2021, dedicated two mechanised boreholes jointly funded by the Graceland Pentecost International Worship Centre (PIWC) at Nungua, and the Teshie-Nungua Area of the church.

The two projects which are sited at Vieri and Nyoli in the Wa Area of the church amounted to GH¢ 30,000.00, with each donor providing GH¢ 15,000.00

Pastor Stephen Kwabena Adade, the District Minister of Vieri, was full of praise to the Teshie-Nungua Area Head, Apostle Dr. Alfred Koduah, for coming to the aid of the community.

He indicated that since the Mission House was dedicated some 15 years ago, this is the first time that water was flowing through the taps, saying that the project will also benefit the Vieri community.

Overseer Daniel Kwaku Mpanga of Nyoli District, on his part, expressed gratitude to Graceland PIWC headed by Pastor Ebenezer Agyapong. He also indicated that, since the District Mission House was dedicated some 19 years ago, this is the first time that water flowed through the taps, and added that the entire Nyoli community will benefit greatly from the project.

The Chief of Nyoli was full of praise to The Church of Pentecost for the timely intervention. He indicated that the only source of water that serves more than one thousand inhabitants is a dam and an old borehole which was barely efficient. He added that the intervention by the church will go a long way to address the challenges that the community faces in terms of potable water.

Report by Pastor Gordon Ansah, Wa.