Northern Accra Diocese of Methodist Church inaugurates Association of Methodist Traditional Rulers

The Northern Accra Diocese of the Methodist Church Ghana, has inaugurated a new group made up of traditional rulers in Christendom, to champion deeds that will spring forth national unity and development.

The group, Association of Methodist Traditional Rulers, which has a five-member Interim Committee, was inaugurated at the Bethany Methodist Church at Dzorwulu in Accra on Wednesday, December 6, 2023.

The event was characterised with colourful display of tradition and religion as the rulers accompanied by their subjects, adorned in their regalia as well as singing of  hymns, and reading of sermons.

Among others, the Association would evangelise to win more people, including their colleague Chiefs and traditional rulers, as well as their subjects to God, and educate them on matters of faith for Christian growth and maturity.

Speaking at the inaugural ceremony, King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, Ga Mantse, who Chaired the occasion underscored the strong bond between Traditional Religion and Christianity.

He stated that during “chants” of traditional rulers, they call for the presence of God, because they acknowledge the existence of a Supreme Being, adding that their dominion over their subjects was also derived from God.

“A nation cannot be blessed if the King does not recognise God as the Supreme,” the Overlord of the Ga State said, and lauded the Methodist Church for tying the knot between Christianity and Traditional Religion.

“The intent of the Methodist Church to marry faith and traditional authority is well-placed,” the Ga Mantse said, and charged the Association to be intentional about educating the youth to understand the essence of God in their lives.

Mr Stephen Asamoah Boateng, the Minister for Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, a sepecial guest at the function, stated that there is a commonality between the church and traditional rulers, as both acknowledge the existence of God.

“If we can get the youth to understand the essence of God and the need to respect the elderly in society, we’ll have a future bright,” the Minister said.

He also commended the Methodist Church for the move, and called on other churches to emulate them to promote faith and tradition as a key tool for the development of the country.

During a media engagement after the ceremony, Leni Captain Nii Kojo Nseni Mantakah IV, Chairman for the Committee said, emphasised their call to serve mankind through Christianity and Traditional Religion.

“Before we were installed traditional rulers, we were Christians, so the belief of Christianity is within us, but there’s this misconception that once you’re a traditional ruler, you’re fetish, so, you can’t serve God,” he said.

He explained that the formation of the Association was to ensure that Traditional Rulers were closer to Christendom than before, and that would be done through evangelism.

Speaking on the theme: “Discipleship; growing into Christian maturity,” the Right Reverend Professor Joseph M.Y. Edusa-Eyison, Bishop of the Northern Accra Diocese encouraged a blend of faith and tradition to affect people’s lives.

He, therefore, asked the rulers to ensure that their Christian faith and the performance of their traditional mandate impacted positively on people and society. The inauguration was part of the 5^th Anniversary of the establishment of the Northern Accra Diocese (NAD)  of the Methodist Church Ghana.

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