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Marriage based on lies will not last – Catholic Priest
A Catholic Priest at the St. Augustine Catholic Church in Ashaiman, Reverend Father Tapera Muserere (SVD), has advised persons intending to marry not to do so with an ulterior motive or under compulsion.
He explained that it was important for a person to come freely with his or her choice of partner to the church but should remember that “the church does not force people to marry”.
“If your marriage is based on lies, you will cry tomorrow ” he said delivering a sermon at the St. Augustine Catholic Church in Ashaiman on the 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time under the theme “Marriage and Family Life”.
Rev Fr. Muserere said marriage was a covenant and a contract, therefore, if a person was brought to the Church for the wrong reasons or based on lies for marriage, it had serious implications.
“You fooled the person, you didn’t tell him or her the truth. That means that marriage was not a covenant in the first place” he stressed.
The Catholic Priest said there had been instances where people who had been previously married traditionally failed to disclose this to their partners who only found out after their marriage had been solemnised.
He said others who had children also failed to disclose that information to their potential spouses for fear that they would be rejected.
These reasons according to him were not justifiable in any sense and were enough grounds for nullification of the marriage.
Rev Fr. Muserere said truth was key for a successful marriage and a marriage which was based on lies could never survive.
He advised singles to pray over their potential spouses and ask God to give them spouses who would love them and they could do same to be able to stick together in thick and thin.
He said for those who were already married but living unnaceptable lives and hiding behind the excuse “that it was the work of the devil” should have a change of life, be disciplined and rather ask God for strength instead if being comfortable hiding behind the so-called devil.
He charged all married couples to pray to God to intervene in whatever challenges they might be going through and ask Him to strengthen them for the rest of the journey ahead because every marriage had its own challenges, and needed the help of God. END
From Dzifa Tetteh Tay, Ashaiman.
President John Dramani Mahama has called on Ghanaians to remain united, grateful and prayerful despite the recent floods that claimed lives and destroyed property in parts of Accra.
Speaking at the National Day of Prayer and Thanksgiving held at the forecourt of the State House in Accra, the President noted that the nation had gathered not because all its challenges had been solved, but to reflect, give thanks to God and renew its commitment to the country’s development.
He explained that throughout Ghana’s history, the nation had consistently turned to God during both difficult and successful times, describing faith as one of the country’s strongest pillars.
“We gather not as members of different political parties, ethnic groups or religions, but as one people under God,” President Mahama stated.
He encouraged Ghanaians to approach the occasion with grateful hearts, stressing that every blessing the country enjoys comes from God.
Reflecting on the recent floods that devastated parts of Accra, President Mahama acknowledged the pain of families who lost loved ones and property during the disaster.
Despite the tragedy, he urged citizens to draw strength from Scripture, quoting First Epistle to the Thessalonians Chapter 5, Verse 18, which encourages believers to give thanks in all circumstances.
The National Day of Prayer and Thanksgiving brought together religious leaders, members of Parliament, the Judiciary, senior government officials, members of the diplomatic corps, security service chiefs, traditional leaders and other dignitaries to pray for the nation and reflect on its progress and challenges.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Renowned Ghanaian businessman and an indigene of the Upper East Region, Awentami Paul Afoko, has called for the construction of an international airport in the Upper East Region, arguing that it is critical to unlocking the region’s agricultural and export potential.
Addressing stakeholders at the Regional Development Framework validation forum in Bolgatanga, Mr. Afoko said the Upper East Region possesses enormous economic opportunities that can be harnessed through strategic investment in agriculture, infrastructure,, and trade.
“As an entrepreneur, I have learnt that governments do not create businesses; entrepreneurs do. Government’s responsibility is to create the environment within which businesses can thrive,” he said.
He highlighted irrigation projects and commercial farming as key drivers of economic transformation, urging greater investment in year-round production of vegetables, fruits, and flowers for international markets.
“The challenge is not finding buyers. The challenge is producing at sufficient scale throughout the year,” he stated.
Mr. Afoko also called for investment in warehouses, cold-chain facilities, packaging centres and standardized production systems to improve the competitiveness of local products, including shea butter, basket weaving, and textiles.
“We must organise ourselves to produce standardised products and invest in warehouses, cold chains, and packaging so that we become year-round suppliers,” he said.
He stressed that an international airport would significantly boost exports from the region.
“We need an airport urgently so that flowers from the Upper East can reach Europe before Kenyan flowers do. Burkina Faso produces strawberries, and we can do the same,” he remarked.
According to Mr. Afoko, the region’s strategic location also presents opportunities to expand cross-border trade with neighbouring countries through stronger economic diplomacy.
“There is the need for an international airport in the region to enable us to seize export opportunities. Our strategic location also presents enormous opportunities to strengthen border trade,” he added.
He called on the government, diplomats, and development partners to work together to position the Upper East Region as a major agricultural and export hub in West Africa.
By: Jacob Aggrey
