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Understanding Themes Behind Watch Night Services
During the Christmas festivities, many Ghanaians look forward to how they will end the year and usher in the New Year. Ahead of December 31, churches across the country organise crusades, revivals, camp meetings, and other spiritual activities to prepare members for the transition into the New Year.
For many Christians, New Year’s Eve is marked by a Watch Night service, which is characterised by prayer, thanksgiving, and reflection to climax a symbolic crossover into the New Year at midnight.
Over the years, churches in Ghana have adopted various themes for their 31st Night Services to encourage members and attract non-members, offering insight into what congregants should expect in the coming year.
The term ‘crossover’ has become a common expression to describe 31st December Watch Night Services. These services have become famous due to the fascinating themes generated by the churches. Some of the captivating themes spotted on huge billboards with over two weeks to December 31 include: “Night of Signs and Wonders,” “Night of Wonders,” “Exodus Night,” “Empowerment Summit,” “Glorious Triumphant Entry,” and “Occupy 2026.”
Other themes that enthrall people include “Cross Over to Recover,” “Passover to Takeover,” “Crossing Over,” “Operation Jabez Crossover,” “Restoration Night,” “Run Over,” and “December To Remember.”
In an interview with The Spectator on these themes, Prophet Alfred Asihene Arjarquah of Paramount House Chapel explained that the church’s crossover theme for 2026, “Occupy 2026,” was inspired by biblical instructions for believers to take possession, dominate, and flourish.
According to him, the theme was grounded in God’s original mandate to humanity to be fruitful and to occupy the earth, as well as God’s directive to Joshua to take possession of the Promised Land after the enemies had been subdued.
“God told Joshua that the land He had prepared ahead of the Israelites was already cleared of enemies, and they were to occupy the land flowing with milk and honey. That is the spiritual foundation of Occupy 2026,” he indicated.
He noted that the emphasis on “Occupy” distinguishes the church’s crossover service from conventional year-end themes by challenging believers to take action rather than wait passively for blessings.
Prophet Arjarquah further revealed in the interview that 2026 has been declared the Year of Extraordinary Praise, a season he believes will be characterised by miracles, signs, and wonders.
Beyond the church, Prophet Arjarquah used the opportunity to pray for the nation, asking God to bless the people of Ghana and stabilise the economy. He also encouraged citizens to remain hopeful and steadfast, trusting God for restoration and national progress.
“We are praying that God will bless the people of Ghana and also bless the economy,” he said, stressing the need for faith, discipline, and unity in addressing the country’s challenges.
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
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Troubled and anxious citizens in Damongo of the Savannah Region have expressed concerns about the number of young people, believed to be under the age of 18, involved in ‘shisha’ smoking in pubs and drinking spots within the township.
Eyewitnesses say the minors were seen patronising nightlife venues, where Shisha smoking happen in the open.
The situation has sparked renewed public concern over the enforcement of child protection laws and regulations governing the operations of entertainment centres in the municipality and country as a whole.
An eyewitness, who spoke to The Spectator on conditions of anonymity for security reasons, noted that the situation was becoming increasingly common.
“This is not a one-off incident. It is becoming very common, but residents like us cannot openly report or speak about it because our lives will be at risk,” he said.
Under Ghanaian law, minors were prohibited from patronising Shisha.
Public health experts have consistently warned that shisha use exposes users to harmful substances that can negatively affect brain development, respiratory health, and overall well-being, particularly among young people.
The residents believe the alleged incidents point to broader challenges relating to youth supervision, substance abuse, and weak enforcement of existing regulations and have called on municipal authorities, security agencies, and regulatory bodies to intensify monitoring of pubs and entertainment centres to ensure compliance with the law.
In an effort to address the menace, Mr Salisu Be-Awurbi, the Savannah Regional Minister, has led public education campaigns, engaged security agencies, and supported enforcement actions to address the rising use of illicit substances in the region.
Wura Kelly Seidu Boresah I, the Chief of Damongo, has also called on all stakeholders including parents, community leaders, institutions, and young people to actively support efforts to curb drug abuse, warning that the rising consumption of hard drugs poses a serious health threat to the future of the youth in the Savannah Region.
He also cautioned individuals involved in the sale and distribution of illicit drugs to immediately desist from the practice, stressing that offenders will face arrest and prosecution in accordance with the law.
From Geoffrey Buta, Damongo, Savannah Region
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Dr Theresa Baffour, an advocate for ending violence and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of SAHM SAHW Foundation, has said that society plays a critical and pivotal role in breaking the cycle of domestic violence.
According to her, domestic violence is a major contributor of making women, who are mostly the victims, mentally derailed and unable to engage in economic activities.
She said this when the foundation called on the Ga Mantse, Nii Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, to solicit support for the initiative by the “Strong and Healthy Minds, Strong and Healthy Women” (SAHM SAHW) to combat domestic violence within the Ga State.
The visit was occasioned by the fact that domestic violence cases have become quite prevalent in the Ga communities and is retarding growth.
According to her, the canker was an impediment to national development because the victims were usually tortured and would have to go through series of therapies to return to the right state of mind.
Dr Baffour mentioned that Gender-Based Violence (GBV) places a mental toll on women, and was, therefore, important to break the cycle through comprehensive mental health support, crisis intervention and empowerment programmes in communities with high rates of GBV.
This intervention, she underscored, would help in empowering the denigrated victim of domestic violence to soundly heal, build and thrive.
Dr Baffour added that the initiative would provide holistic, trauma-informed mental health care and advocacy for young women affected by domestic violence.
According to her, the above statement would create safe spaces for healing and equipping them with entrepreneurial skills for renewed hope and empowered life.
The Ga Mantse pledged his support for the laudable initiative to combat domestic violence and also acknowledged the need to address it in the Ga State.
Further endorsement came from Justice Julia Naa-Yarley Adjei Amoah, Chief of Staff at the Office of the Ga Mantse, as she commended the team of SAHM SAHW Foundation for taking a bold step to end the canker in the Greater Accra.
She added that it was a step in the right direction to save vulnerable women from torture, stress and emotional abuse.
By Alfred Nii Arday Ankrah
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