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Of player quality, national interest in Black Stars
In little over a fortnight, Ghana’s senior national team, Black Stars, will plunge into action in Cameroon, in search of a Golden Fleece that has been elusive for four decades.
Indeed, the last time the Stars clinched the African Cup of Nations coronet was in Tripoli, Libya, 1982. There, Ghana upstaged the host nation Libya at a nerve-jangling shoot-out, swaggering away a fourth unprecedented title (1963, 1965, 1978 and 1982).
Ever since, the Stars have glittered to the party at three Nations Cup finale (Senegal 1992, Angola 2010 and Equatorial Guinea 2015), but left with plenty anguish and pain – especially to Cote d’Ivoire (1992 and 2015) who won via penalties on both occasions.
Though they have not fared badly, concern of Ghanaians seem to be rooted in the final list of players to do battle in Cameroon from January 9 to February 6, 2022.
Head trainer of the Black Stars, Milovan Rajevac, on Tuesday presented his provisional list of 30 players to the Ghana Football Association (GFA) with many caught in a state of solicitude over who is going to make the final cut.
Ahead of that final slit of 23, the team is expected to start pitching tent in Doha, Qatar, where they would be engaged in a series of friendlies aimed at fine-tuning their rough edges and sharpening their arsenal for the nearly one-month absorbing tournament.
According to the Communications Director of the GFA, Henry Asante Twum, the Stars will face the Desert Foxes on January 5 in what will be their final game before heading off to Cameroon.
The exact identities of the first two opponents were not immediately revealed but Henry Twum noted that the Stars would play a yet-to-be-named club side on Tuesday, December 28, before taking on one of the Africa Cup of Nations qualified teams on Friday, January 1, 2022 in another friendly.”
It was further stated that “the Black Stars will depart Doha for Yaounde on Friday, January 7, 2022 to take on the rest of Africa at the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon. Rajevac, it is said, has until Friday, December 30, 2021 to submit his final squad for the tournament. With Covid-19 ravaging, many have also asked whether the provisional list of 30 is enough for the Doha camp.
Well, in Cameroon, the Stars – drawn against Morocco, Gabon and Comoros in Group C, will be seeking to end what will be a disconcerting 40-year wait for a continental title.
As said earlier, Ghanaians would be waiting with bated breath to see the identity of players who will make up the final 23. It is so important to them. It is important to all who have the team at heart. They need players who are ready to fight wholeheartedly for the mission in Cameroon. They need to see players who are prepared to die on the pitch for the result rather than giving up out of exhaustion.
Indeed, the Cameroon mission is to bring back the Cup. Nothing else! And, that is the task given to Rajevac who has promised to put the smiles on the faces of Ghanaians.
US-based Ghanaian coach Robert Sackey, may also have hammered it right on the head when he called for the Ghana technical team to dash for players who would put the nation above all interest.
“We need players who have passion and willing to play for Ghana; they are the ones that must earn to right to the AFCON. Ghana needs a trophy, and this AFCON must be the right time to do so with the right players,” he asserted.
Having said that it is important, too, to acknowledge that admonition of a former President of the GFA, Lepowura Alhaji Jawula, who believes that breaking the embarrassing trophy hoodoo and Stygian silence, may probably go beyond player quality and team performance.
“No matter what, the fans are simply indispensable. That’s why we need to have everybody on board and roll on like one big family.
“Indeed, the Stars mission in Cameroon will be feckless without the unflinching backing of Ghanaians.”
Many Ghanaians want the AFCON trophy more than anything else – and as the tournament roars off from January 9 to February 6, 2022, knees will go down earnestly praying for the end to the years of anguish and torment in search of the nation’s fifth continental Holy Grail.
By John Vigah
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Is the “Rev” title biblical?
In many Ghanaian churches, pastors are often introduced as “Reverend” or simply “Rev.”
The title is seen as a mark of respect, yet its biblical basis continues to stir debate.
While some Christians argue that it is a harmless way to honour church leaders, others insist it is unbiblical and should not be used at all.
Those who question the title usually point to the Bible itself. Nowhere in Scripture did Jesus or the apostles use “Reverend” for themselves or for one another.
Instead, they addressed each other as “brother” or “servant.” In Matthew 23, Jesus even warned his followers not to seek titles such as “rabbi” or “father,” teaching that all believers are equal under one God.
Critics also note that Psalm 111:9 describes God’s name alone as “holy and reverend” in the King James Bible.
To them, this means the word should be reserved for God, not for human beings. Others go further, citing Job 32, which cautions against giving flattering titles to men.
For such voices, the modern use of “Reverend” risks elevating pastors beyond what the Bible prescribes.
On the other hand, defenders of the title argue that it is not meant to replace God’s reverence but simply to acknowledge a minister’s role.
In many churches, “Reverend” is given to ordained ministers who have undergone training, much like the way a doctor is addressed as “Dr.”
The Bible itself, they point out, encourages believers to honour their leaders, with 1 Timothy 5:17 stating that elders who direct the affairs of the church well are “worthy of double honour.”
In this sense, the title is seen as a formal courtesy rather than a theological statement.
Supporters remind critics that Christianity does not operate in a vacuum but within cultural settings.
In Ghanaian society, respect for elders and authority is central to social order. Just as chiefs are addressed with titles such as “Nana” or “Togbe,” many Christians believe it is fitting to extend a similar courtesy to church leaders.
In their view, calling a pastor “Reverend” reflects Ghanaian values of honour and respect, and does not amount to worshipping a human being.
Yet the debate is far from settled. Some argue that the title has been abused, with individuals presenting themselves as “Reverend” without any proper training or accountability.
Calls have even been made for the regulation of church titles to prevent confusion and protect the credibility of ministry. Others, however, see no harm in its continued use, so long as it is not taken beyond what Scripture allows.
At the heart of the matter lies a bigger question: should Christians stick strictly to biblical language when addressing their leaders, or is it acceptable to adapt titles as society evolves?
The conversation is not just theological but cultural, touching on how Ghana balances respect for tradition with the authority of Scripture.
The debate over the “Rev” title is therefore not one with easy answers. What is clear, however, is that it forces us to reflect on how we show honour, how we interpret the Bible, and how faith interacts with our cultural practices.
As the discussion continues in church pews and on social platforms, we ask you: should pastors and ministers be called “Reverend,” or should Christians abandon the title altogether?
By: Jacob Aggrey
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Police confirm arrest of two suspects in Asankrangwa murder case
The Western Central Regional Police Command has confirmed the arrest of two men in connection with the fatal stabbing of a 20-year-old man at the Asankrangwa Education Area on Sunday, August 17, 2025.
In a statement signed by the Head of the Public Affairs Unit, ASP Beatrice Turkson, the police said preliminary investigations revealed that the deceased was chased and stabbed multiple times by a group of people.
The incident is believed to have stemmed from a misunderstanding between the deceased and one of the suspects, identified as 36-year-old Kwasi Opong.
According to the police, swift action led to the arrest of Opong and another suspect, 23-year-old William Francis Osei. Both are currently in custody assisting with investigations, while efforts are underway to apprehend another suspect who is still on the run.
The police noted that the body of the deceased has been deposited at the Asankrangwa Catholic Hospital morgue for preservation and autopsy.
“The Command assures the public that all persons connected to this heinous crime will be brought to justice,” the statement said.
The police appealed to the public to provide any information that could assist in the ongoing investigations.
By: Jacob Aggrey
