Methodist Children’s Ministry calls on President to assent to LGBTQ+ Bill

The Children’s Ministry Directorate of the Methodist Church Ghana has added its voice to many calls on the President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to assent theanti-LGBTQ+ bill.

Assenting the bill to become law, the Directorate believed would safeguard children all over the world in a polarised society like Ghana, adding “we need to enact laws to safeguard the future of every child.”

This was contained in a communique copied the Ghanaian Times in Accra, yesterday, during the 23rd Annual International Children’s Festival organised by the Methodist Church Ghana, at Assin Foso in the Central Region.

On the theme, ‘Discipleship; Growing into Christian Maturity,’ the Festival is an annual event that brings together children from all over the country and other neighboring countries such as the– Ivory Coast, Togo and Benin to mutually study the word of God and learn from each other.

The Directorate said laws that protect children and the survival of the family must be embrace by all, adding that the Children’s Ministry argued that, rights of individuals must be the one that protect the collective survival of the society; and not the selfish interest of some individuals such as in the case of the LGBTQI community.

Highlighting some strides made by the church in the development of children as well as some various scholarship scheme by the church for needy but brilliant children, the communique attributed some success stories of certain individuals who may have ended up in the street, to this special intervention by the church.

On child protection, the children stated their support for the Child Protection and Safeguarding Programme of the Church which seeks to address issues concerning protecting the rights of every child.

Addressing the participants, the Connexional Superintendent of Sunday School, Mr Peter Amoh praised the church for the effort in organising the festival post covid.

He commended the Director of the Children’s Ministry, the Very Rev. Kenneth Arthur-Sarfo for his leadership role in transforming the ministry and initiating such a project as ‘My Twin Out There, My Child Out There,’ which seeks to cloth less privileged children on Christmas.

In fraternal greetings, the foreign delegates (Ivory Coast, Togo and Benin) commended the Methodist Church Ghana for initiating and sustaining the Children’s Festival. They also praised past Directors of the Children’s Ministry for their meaningful contributions in bonding the partnership between the four countries through the programme. 

The Ivorian delegation donated a piece of their Children’s Ministry cloth each to the Presiding Bishop and the Children’s Ministry Director as a token of appreciation for the invitation. The delegation also hoped for the growth of the union of the Children’s Ministry of Methodist Churches in West Africa region.   

Connexionally, over 500 children participated in the festival with 60 foreign delegates. The four-day festival started on Wednesday April 24, and ended on Sunday April 28, 2024.

At the end of the programme, Wenchi Diocese was adjudged the best participating team for emerging second in the Sword Drill and first in the Bible quiz competitions.

Following closely were the Winneba Diocese that emerged first in the sword drill and Obuasi Diocese second in the bible quiz competitions. The Togo delegation was also adjudged the best foreign participating team. 

BY TIMES REPORTER