News
‘Echoes of Victory’ celebrates 25 years September 4 with musical concert
Echoes of Victory, a singing ministry of the Ebenezer Methodist Church, at Madina in Accra, is set to celebrate its Silver Jubilee with a Gospel Rock Show scheduled for Sunday, September 4, 2022.
The concert dubbed: “Celebrating 25 Years of Transforming Lives through Music,” comes off at the Ebenezer Methodist Cathedral at Madina and would feature two renowned gospel artistes, Uncle Ato and Eugene Zuta.
The group was officially inaugurated on Sunday, 22nd December 1996 after it was formed in 1994 and has over the years contributed to various evangelism programmes of the church.
Nana Kofi Opoku, President of the group, said the choir was initiated by a group of young Christians belonging to various youth organisations with the purpose of “evangelism and creating an atmosphere of worship at church services.”
According to him, the group had actively participated in numerous crusades, revivals, and other outreach programmes organised by the Madina Circuit and the Accra Diocese of the Methodist Church.
“Some of the programmes that stand out include the Madina circuit and Accra diocese outdoor crusades with Rev. Dr. Lawrence Tetteh between the years 1998 and 2001.
“We were one of the youth singing ministry among a total of three selected for the national crusades under the auspices of the Most Rev. Dr. Samuel Asante Antwi which had Rev. Dr. Lawrence Tetteh as the main speaker,” he noted.
He said the choir as part of its evangelism programmes had over the years toured some basic and secondary schools at Madina to help them nurture their talents and encourage them live Godly lives.
He mentioned Mr. Gideon Osei Agyemang, Jude Amoakwa, Nana Kofi Opoku, Joseph Okai, Joseph Agyei, Benjamin Agyei, Alfred Nii Otu, Michael Okai Simon Sackey, Henry Owoo, among others as some founding leaders of the group.
Nancy Tetteh, Gloria Akonnor, Augustina Barnes, Constance Gyabi, Angelina Arthur, and Christiana Owusu, he added, later on formed the first batch of females to join the group.
“As we celebrate our anniversary we can only look back and be thankful for how far the Lord has brought us.
“The history of the group will never be complete if we fail to acknowledge the immeasurable contributions our patrons and patronesses as well as other individuals have made to sustain the group up to this point,” Mr. Opoku added.
The anniversary celebrations will be climaxed in December with a Thanksgiving Service.
By Spectator Reporter
The Minority Caucus on Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee has called for urgent and decisive action following recent xenophobic attacks on Ghanaians living in South Africa.
In a statement issued in Accra on April 29, the caucus expressed concern about what it described as a growing pattern of violence against foreign nationals, including Ghanaians, in areas such as KwaZulu-Natal, Durban and Gauteng.
The group noted that Ghanaian-owned businesses have been attacked, while some individuals have been harassed and assaulted. It added that, in certain cases, victims have also been denied access to essential services.
According to the statement, claims that foreign nationals are responsible for crime and economic hardship are unfounded and should be rejected.
The caucus referred to the widely circulated assault of a Ghanaian, Emmanuel Asamoah, as an example of the severity of the situation. It also raised concern about reports that some incidents occurred in the presence of law enforcement officers without effective intervention.
The Minority acknowledged steps taken by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, including his engagement with South African authorities and efforts to provide consular support to affected Ghanaians.
It noted the public condemnation of the attacks by President Cyril Ramaphosa, describing these as necessary but not sufficient.
The caucus called on the South African government to ensure the immediate arrest and prosecution of those responsible and to hold security agencies accountable where they fail to act.
It urged authorities to take practical steps to protect foreign nationals across the country.
On the part of Ghana, the Minority urged the government to adopt a stronger and more structured response.
It called for direct engagement between President John Dramani Mahama and President Ramaphosa to secure firm commitments on the safety of Ghanaians.
The statement further recommended increased consular support for citizens in affected areas and called for the issue to be escalated to the African Union for an urgent inquiry into recurring xenophobic attacks.
It urged the government to work with regional partners within ECOWAS to present a unified response.
The Minority suggested that Ghana should seek assurances from South Africa, including confirmed arrests, clear prosecution processes and a plan to protect foreign nationals.
It added that compensation should be considered for victims who have suffered losses.
The statement, signed by the Ranking Member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Samuel Abu Jinapor, urged Ghanaians in South Africa to remain cautious and maintain contact with the Ghana High Commission.
It stressed that Ghana must act firmly to protect its citizens and uphold the principles of cooperation and solidarity among African countries.
By: Jacob Aggrey
News
Climate Change and Sustainability Ministry backs WiSA International Festival to promote women-led climate action
The Office of the Minister of State for Climate Change and Sustainability has expressed support for the Women in Sustainability Africa (WiSA) International Festival, aimed at promoting inclusive climate action and sustainable development across the continent.
In a statement, the Office said it recognises WiSA as an important platform that brings together governments, development partners, the private sector and civil society to drive climate solutions and economic transformation.
The Festival is scheduled to take place on May 1, 2026, at the Cedi Conference Centre from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
This year’s event under the theme: Empowering Women For The Economic Sustainability of Africa, will feature, Liu Yaw Nana, Acting Secretary of Ghana-Chinese Business Chamber of Commerce, Issifu Seidu, Minister of State for Climate Change and Sustainability, Dr.Agness Naa Momo Lartey, Minister for Gender Children and Social Protection, Bishop E.O Ansah, General Overseer, Eternal Life Church, President, Women’s Development Association, Turkey, Nilgün Zaimoğlu and Chief of Government Relations and Africa UN Global Compact.
Additionally, it will host, Dr.Charity Binka, Chairperson, Chairperson, African Women Leaders Network , Pearl Opoku, Trader and GUTA National Organiser, Lydia Abbey, Makola Market Queen, actress Juliet Ibrahim, CEO of FZ Global Legacy, Francesca Zoppi, The Revival Founder, Yayra Agbofah and many others.
According to the statement, WiSA’s vision, led by Nana Yaa Serwaa Sarpong, aligns with national and continental goals on climate resilience, green growth and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The Office noted that WiSA’s focus on empowering women as key drivers of sustainability and economic productivity is a practical approach to addressing climate challenges and development gaps.
It highlighted WiSA’s track record of engaging global institutions and organising multi-stakeholder events as evidence of its ability to mobilise partnerships and deliver results.
The Ministry said the 2026 Festival presents an opportunity to promote climate-smart investments, green innovation and scalable solutions in areas such as renewable energy, sustainable agriculture and the circular economy.
It added that the event will also support public-private partnerships and strengthen Africa-led solutions in global sustainability discussions.
As part of its commitment, the Office said it will support policy coordination, facilitate engagement with relevant government agencies, and promote an enabling environment for climate finance and green investments.
It also pledged to contribute to knowledge sharing, technical support and stakeholder mobilisation.
The statement emphasised that investing in initiatives like WiSA is key to driving inclusive economic growth, building resilience and achieving long-term development goals.
It further stressed that empowering women remains central to delivering sustainable and equitable outcomes.
The Office called on organisations to partner with WiSA to support climate action and sustainable development efforts across Africa.
By: Jacob Aggrey
