President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has made a personal donation of GH¢100,000 towards the building of National Provincial Secretariat of the Anglican Church in Ghana.
The President announced this at the installation and enthronement ceremony of Rt. Rev. Dr. Cyril Kobina Ben-Smith, as the 2nd Archbishop of the Anglican Church of Ghana, at Asante-Mampong, in the Ashanti Region on Saturday.
“With the first strategic move of the new Archbishop being the establishment of a National Provincial Secretariat for the Church in Accra, which I believe is very necessary for the Church, I am, to this end, making a personal donation of GH¢100,000 towards its construction,” the President, who is an Anglican announced.
Touching on the establishment of the Internal Province of Ghana (IPG), the President stressed that it could not have come at a better time, as it will help strengthen Anglicanism in Ghana.
“The Province is expected to put up strategies and policies to unify members of the Anglican Communion in Ghana and ensure its growth, and you can count on my government’s support in its sustenance. I believe it is for good reason that the President of the Republic, at this critical period in the Church’s history, is a proud Anglican,” he added.
With historical records indicating that the Anglican Church “has probably been continuously present on Ghanaian soil longer than any”, the President indicated that the Church, from humble beginnings, has grown to become one of the largest congregations in the country.
“Successive priests and congregations are to be applauded for this, and for the many years of service and fellowship to Mother Ghana. The Anglican Church has been a good example of what it means to love one another and give cheerfully to those in need, and I have no doubt that this legacy of ministry and compassion will long grace this Church,” he added.
President Akufo-Addo, thus, urged members of the Church to rise to their religious responsibilities, and stimulate the desired motivational spirit of renewal and transformation towards effective nation-building.
With the COVID-19 vaccinations set to begin soon, the President observed that it is vital that all Ghanaians continue to adhere to the COVID-19 safety protocols.
Congratulating the new Archbishop, the Rt. Rev. Dr. Cyril Kobina Ben-Smith, on his assumption of office, President Akufo-Addo stated that “I look forward to the new measures and strategies that will project the image of the Anglican Communion in Ghana by affirming stronger and tighter collaboration with the State. Archbishop, we will support you in this endeavour, and I will urge all members of the Communion here in Ghana to be united in their support of you.”