Shaun's Visit to Ghana
"Akwaaba", "Weso", "O Gye Me Fei". If your Akan, Ewe or Ga is a bit rusty, "Welcome"! It was a friendly greeting I heard so many times during my visit to Ghana in May this year, which reflects the warmth and the friendliness of the people there.
I went to Ghana to experience the original home of many of our members who, along with others from overseas, particularly West Africa and the Caribbean, are making inner London Methodism such an interesting place to be.
The Methodist Church in Ghana, along with other churches in Africa, is experiencing growth with many new members. St. Peter Methodist Church, Mile 7 in the New Achimoto Circuit, Accra began with 30 members just over 5 years ago. It now has 320 members. That's under the oversight of a minister, Very Rev Daniel French, who not only has 2 other churches totalling nearly 200 members, but also has a full time job at the Methodist Church headquarters in central Accra.
It was good to share in a Sunday service and preach at St. Peter church. Worship combined the traditional, including the hymns of Charles Wesley, the Te Deum, the Apostles' Creed with lively African music and dance. Music was led by by a choir, a singing band, a keyboard, modern drums and two types of Afican drums. I felt very much at home singing, 'When I look at the mountains' and 'We praise thy name O Lord' which we enjoy at our Hackney church. The service lasted over 3 hours and included a wedding.
Evidence of a strong religious life was everywhere. The top picture shows Love, Teddy, Ebenezer and Josephine working in the Jesus is Lord bakery. Amongst the many other signs were the Genesis 1.3 Lighting Applicance Shop, the 'Jesus is the Secret of my Success Hair Salon' and a car with an 'I trust in God' sticker in the back window. It just missed crashing into us. Although I trusted in God, I didn't trust in the driver's ability to handle to car!
There was generally a pride in the stability and prospects of the country. Most people I spoke to believed that the government was doing well under the circumstances. Although they valued the support and encouragement of Western nations, there was also the view that many of the solutions to the challenges they faced were in the hands of of the people and leaders of Africa.
Despite the developments made in Ghana in recent years, there is still much more progress to be made. At road junctions, there were a steady stream of people, often children, walking between the cars trying to sell food, newspapers and other small items.
I had the opportunity to visit other parts of Ghana including the Lake Volta Dam in Akosombo built by Ghana's first President Nkrumah. Cape Coast Castle was a chilling reminder of the transatlantic slave trade. The picture on the right shows a priest offering a prayer at a shrine in the woman's dungeon.
My visit to Ghana was a very moving experience. I understand more the culture and background of many of our members and many of my day to day concerns are now put into a different context. I am so thankful to the people I met for their kindness and generosity. I am especially grateful for the hospitality provided by Daniel & Josephine French, their family Ebenezer, Teddy & George, plus Love and Ben. Thank you also to Rev Emmanuel Aggrey-Ogoe for arranging the visit.
Meet more of the people I met in Ghana (including Junior & Edwin) ... Ghana 2