The Assakae District Minister of The Church of Pentecost, Pastor Ernest Perbi-Asare, on Saturday, March 20, 2021, launched his Akuapem Twi Poetry book, “Me Kristosom Abrabo Ho Anwensem Aduasa,” written from a Christian perspective.
The foreword to the 80-page book was written by the General Secretary of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Alexander Nana Yaw Kumi-Larbi.
“I love the book for two reasons; first because of the well-written poems that display the intelligent use of literary devices to address real-life issues through the Christian lens; and secondly, because it is written in my native dialect, Akuapem Twi, which I passionately love to express at any given opportunity,” Apostle Kumi-Larbi said in the foreword.
The General Secretary was however worried about how literacy is often associated with one’s ability to express themselves well in the English language and how people look down on those who are not fluent in the English language and yet seem unperturbed when they are unable to express themselves fluently in their mother tongue. He bemoaned that some church leaders in the country cannot read the Bible in any local language.
Apostle A. N. Y. Kumi-Larbi commended The Church of Pentecost for initiating the Pentecost Literacy Project in the year 2020 which is providing an opportunity for Ghanaians in general, and Christians, in particular, who are typically oral but have a desire to read, write and speak in a language of their choice.
Speaking at the launch which took place at the Assakae Central auditorium of the church in the Effia Kwesimintsim Municipality in the Western Region, Pastor Perbi-Asare indicated that the book is a resource in pursuance of the Vision 2023 agenda of The Church of Pentecost where adults will be taught how to read and write in their native languages and to help them to read the Bible as well.
He expressed his utmost gratitude to the General Secretary of the Church, Apostle A. N. Y. Kumi-Larbi for taking time off his busy schedules to read through the book, offering useful suggestions, and writing the foreword to the book.
“I also thank the Chairman, Apostle Eric Kwabena Nyamekye, and the Executive Council for the Pentecost Literacy School initiative, a timely intervention to help members of the church and Ghanaians, in general, to read and write in their local dialects.”
Speaking at the book launch, the Takoradi Area Head, Apostle Joseph Kwame Assabil, commended the author for the good work done. He used the opportunity to admonish parents to try as much as possible to introduce their children to their native languages in order to grasp concepts from their mother tongues which will subsequently help them speak and learn the English language faster and easier.
Pastor Perbi-Asare donated 50 copies of the books to the Assakae and New Site Pentecost Preparatory Schools in the Effia Kwesimintsim Municipality, and 20 copies to Anyaa-Ablekuma Area of the Church, where the Pentecost Literacy School has been piloted successfully for over a year now.
Three students from Pentecost Preparatory School, Assakae recited various poems from the book to the admiration of the patrons.
Pastor Perbi-Asare, a former Ghanaian Language (Akuapem Twi) tutor at Kibi Presbyterian College of Education and the Seventh Day Adventist Senior High School, Asokore-Koforidua, is one of the Akuapem Twi translators in the Church.
The event was attended by Mrs. Rebecca Assabil (wife of Takoradi Area Head), ministers of the church and their wives in the Takoradi Area, among others.
Report by Assakae District Media Team.