By Rebekah Awuah | Email: rebekahawuah@gmail.com
The outgoing General Secretary of the Christ Apostolic Church International, Apostle Samuel Amponsah Frimpong, who doubles as a Lawyer is the Chairman Elect of the great Church.
He pulled 676 votes out of the 1084 ballots cast to beat his contender, Rev. Augustine Bugyei, who had 308 votes. The Chairman elect succeeds his boss, Apostle George Yeboah, under whom he served as General Secretary.
The outgoing Missions Director, Apostle Samuel Addai-Kusi, who contested for the second gentleman of the Church as General Secretary, garnered 633 votes as opposed Rev Augustine Ekuban, who had 343 with one rejected ballot.
The Field Directorship position once manned by Apostle Enoch Osafo had Rev. Stephen Acheampong and Rev. Samuel Mireku vying for those positions. Rev. Stephen Acheampong received 612 votes, while his opponent, Rev. Samuel Mireku, received 372 votes with one spoilt ballot.
Rev. Asumadu Kyeremeh also took the lead with 663 to cement his victory for the position of Christian Education Director,a position once held by Apostle Joseph K. Arhin. He was in the race with Rev. David Biney, who had 322 votes.
Apostle Prosper Agbagblo, the incumbent Evangelism Director, retained his position with a commanding 980 vote lead over Apostle D. H. Okyere, who received 72 votes with one spoilt ballot.
With the seat vacant, as the Missions Director moves to the secretary slot,the vacuum will be filled by Apostle George Peter Derry. Apostle Derry won with a landslide victory with 632 votes, and his contender, Rev. Emmanuel Awotwe, had 345 votes.
One of the hottest seats in the church is the Prophetic Directorship as the Church itself was born out of Prophecy. The person who fills that position will have a difficult task in getting his ears and eyes fixed on God for the church’s next direction. Apostle George Awuku Morklah, who retired from that position, paved the way for Rev. Samuel Kpeli Mensah and Rev. Baffour Awuah. Rev. Mensah is the new Prophetic Director elect. He had 507 votes, with 471 by Rev. Baffour Awuah making it a very close contest.
Under Article 9 Section 2 of the 2019 Constitution of the Christ Apostolic Church International, eligible and accredited representatives for the exercise include all members of the Executive Council, full-time Ministers, Territorial Administration Members, three representatives from each area as well as representatives from selected missionary areas in Ghana and foreign missions. Others are departmental heads at the General headquarters, two representatives from the Good Women Ministry National Management, Youth and Casa National Management, Men’s Ministry National Management, and Children’s Ministry National Management. Head of subsidiaries or representatives are allowed as observers. The elections were overseen by the electoral Committee of the Church.
The seven-member Executive Council will have two other appointees: the Director of Finance and the General Elder, making a total of nine (9) to steer the affairs of the church for the next four years.
For now, the newly elected executives are:
1. Apostle Samuel Amponsah Frimpong – Chairman Elect
2. Apostle Addai – Kusi – General Secretary Elect
3. Rev. Stephen Acheampong – Field Director Elect
4. Rev. Asumadu Kyeremeh – Christian Education Director elect
5. Apostle Prosper Agbagblo – Evangelism Director elect
6. Apostle George Peter Derry – Missions Director elect
7. Rev. Samuel Kpeli Mensah – Prophetic Director elect
Founded by Apostle Peter Newman Anim the father of Penticostalism in Ghana, the Christ Apostolic Church International is the first and mother of Pentecostal Churches in the then Gold Coast now Ghana – out of which came the Church of Pentecost, Apostolic Church Ghana, Ghana Apostolic , Assemblies of God and many others.
The Church and nation awaits the induction, swearing -in and handing over ceremony of the executives elect and their plan in the years ahead. The 66th Ministerial and General Council Meeting which saw the election of the new Executives took place from Monday February 20 to Thursday February 23 at the National Theatre in Accra.
