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6-day Presidents’ Leadership Retreat by SGUC ends
The Southern Ghana Union Conference (SGUC) of the Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) Church has held a six-day Presidents’ Leadership Retreat conference of presidents under its jurisdiction.
Held from May 18-23 at the SDA College of Education in Koforidua, the retreat was themed: ‘Enhancing the Quality of Church Leaders.’
It brought together church leaders to engage in training, dialogue, and strategic planning.
In his opening remarks, the President of SGUC, Pr. Dr Thomas Techie Ocran, stated that the retreat aimed to equip leaders to handle pressing challenges while fostering unity and foresight in their leadership roles.
He said that the event served as a platform for sharing experiences, gaining insight, and improving leadership capabilities.
As the church prepares for its upcoming elections, Pr. Dr Ocran encouraged leaders to remain united and focused on their mission of preparing God’s people for Christ’s second coming.
He stressed the importance of mutual support among leaders, regardless of election outcomes, reminding them that leadership was a divine appointment.
He urged the pastors not to be emotionally distressed if they are not elected, but to continue serving faithfully.
Also addressing the participants was the President of the West-Central Africa Division (WAD) of the SDA Church, Pr. Dr Osei Bonsu, who challenged ministers to pursue personal growth and deeper understanding to effectively meet the spiritual and practical needs of their members.
He warned that errors made by gospel ministers could have far-reaching and eternal consequences.
The retreat featured a lineup of distinguished facilitators and speakers, including:
Prof. Opoku Boateng, former Vice President of the West-Central Africa Division,
Chaplain P.O. Mensah, former President of the SDA Church, Dr Pascal Brenya, Human Resource Expert and Consultant, Dr Mrs Stella Agyenim Boateng, Public Services Commission, Pr. Nana Kofi Nimako, Col. P.N.K. Duodu, and Pr. Mark Hado, Directors at SGUC and Prof. Vincent Mensah, Principal of the SDA College of Education.
By Linda Abrefi Wadie
Ahyiresu and Abofrem, two quiet communities in the Atwima Mponua District, have been shaken to the core by a chilling midnight drama that reads like a nightmare.
A pastor and a young mother stand accused of attempting to bury a five‑month‑old baby girl alive, a crime that has ignited outrage and disbelief across the township.
According to police, Apostle Richmond Akwasi Frimpong, 36, Head Pastor of the Anointed Grace Prayer Ministry at Kuffour Camp, conspired with his uncle Emmanuel Appiah, 53, and the child’s mother, 23‑year‑old Beatrice Agyapomaa, to dispose of the infant, Anaya Achiaa, under the cover of darkness.
A fourth suspect, Emmanuel Donkor, remains on the run.
The suspects were caught near a refuse dump around 10 pm on April 9, 2026, after a vigilant resident, Akwasi Twezor, noticed their suspicious movements.
When confronted, they claimed the child was already dead and had palace approval for burial. But Twezor’s instincts proved right—the baby was still alive, gasping faintly for breath.
Chief Linguist, Nana Yaw Badu, later confirmed that Frimpong had misled him earlier in the evening, securing permission for burial by falsely declaring the child dead.
The infant was rushed to the Abofrem Clinic, where she is now responding well to treatment. Police described her as “very beautiful.”
Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Evelyn Yitamkey, Commander of DOVVSU in Bibiani, confirmed that the suspects have been provisionally charged.
Frimpong faces attempted murder and conspiracy charges, while Agyapomaa and Appiah are charged with conspiracy and abetment.
They were remanded by the Bibiani Circuit Court, presided over by Judge Frank Asiedu Nimako, to assist investigations.
The docket has been forwarded to the Attorney General’s Department for advice, ASP Yitamkey indicated.
The attempted crime has provoked fury among residents, many suspecting ritual motives aimed at bolstering the pastor’s influence.
Crowds attempted to attack the suspects outside court, but police intervention prevented mob justice.
The Assembly Member for Ahyiresu, Yusuf Suleiman, has assured residents that justice will be pursued swiftly.
From Kingsley E. Hope, Kumasi
The forecourt of the African University of Communications and Business (AUCB) in Accra came alive on Friday with colour, creativity and innovation, as Level 300 students transformed the space into a lively exhibition of ideas.
Under the theme “Building meaningful brands beyond the logo,” the students invited patrons into a world where ordinary products were reimagined through storytelling, design and purpose.
From scented candles to innovative food concepts, each stand told a unique story, one that went beyond aesthetics to capture identity, value and human connection.
For many of the students, the event was more than just an academic exercise; it was a moment to dream out loud.
Guided by their lecturer, Peter Wonders, they explored what it truly means to build a brand in today’s competitive world where trust, consistency and experience matter just as much as logos and slogans.
Chairman of the occasion, Nana Kum Gyata VI, in his remarks said a brand is what people say about you when you are not present.
At the end of the presentations, awards were presented to deserving groups with Vida Nyaneba emerging as the overall best branding student.
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
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