Japanese Ambassador Installed Chief In Sang Community After Opening A 6-Unit School Block

H.E. Kaoru Yoshimura

The Japanese Ambassador to Ghana, His Excellency Kaoru Yoshimura, has been installed as a chief in the Sang Traditional Area of the Dagbon Kingdom in the Northern Region.

Now Zo-simli Naa Kaoru Yoshimura, he is expected to promote friendship between the people of the Sang community and the Government and people of Japan. Zo-simli Naa in Dagbani, the language of the Dagomba people means “Friendship Chief” or “Promoter of Friendship”.

H.E. Yoshimura, who was installed shortly after officially opening the newly constructed six-unit classroom block for the St. Anthony Roman Catholic Primary School, said the government of Japan recognises the importance of a conducive environment for quality education.

According to him, the government of Japan is keen to encourage the children of Sang who are the future of Ghana and the world, because it is their fundamental rights to get education in a secured and comfortable school environment.

“The support from the Government and People of Japan is to emphasise the continuous role played by Japan as one of Ghana’s development partners to meet its development targets. Additionally, providing quality education is one of the long-practiced areas of the Japanese Government’s Economic Cooperation Policy in Ghana. Today, this school becomes one of the symbols of Japan-Ghana cooperation in the Education Sector”, H.E. Yoshimura stressed.

The Japanese Ambassador also urged teachers, pupils and the entire Sang community to ensure maximum use of the school and maintain it for unborn generations.

The school which was built by Songtaba, a non-profit organisation with funding support from the Japan’s Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGHSP) scheme, also has ancillary facilities such as staff common room, a 5-seater toilet facility, a urinal and a headteacher’s office.

According to the Executive Director of Songtaba, Hajia Lamnatu Adam, the construction of the new school edifice was in response to inadequate classrooms that compelled many pupils and teachers to sit under a thatched structure for learning.

The situation, she noted, impeded quality teaching and learning citing low attendance rates particularly during the rainy seasons. “The Government and good people of Japan heard our cry and in March 2016 supported Songtaba with an amount of GH¢317,364.00 (US$83,700) to construct a six-unit classroom block with ancillary facilities.

Hajia Lamnatu Adam

“This facility will provide a congenial atmosphere for learning as well as increase the current enrolment which stands at about 463 pupils” Hajia Lamnatu observed.

Meanwhile, the Coordinating Director of the Mion District Assembly Mr. Sibeko Osman, appealed to the Japanese Embassy to further provide assistance to the people in the areas o0f potable water, agriculture and information communication and technology.  

He said there was currently a severe water problem in the district and as a result, many communities in the area including Sang were sharing dug-outs with livestock which was not hygienic.

Evangelists Bonnke, Kolenda To Touch Down In Tamale Wednesday

Bonnke (L) & Kolenda (R)

Barring any last minute hitch, international healing and soul-winning evangelist, Reinhard Bonnke, would touch down in Tamale on Wednesday January 25^th to begin a 3-day crusade.  

Dubbed: “The Great Gospel Crusade With Evangelist Reinhard Bonnke”, the 76year old Evg. Bonnke would also be accompanied by his successor Evg. Daniel Kolenda who is now the President and Chief Executive Officer of CfaN.

The crusade, which is being planned by Evg. Reinhard Bonnke’s ministry, Christ for all Nations (CfaN) in partnership with local churches in the Tamale Metropolis, is scheduled to take place between January 26 and January 29 in the city of Tamale.

Estimated to bring together about 400 thousand believers and non-believers across the entire Northern Ghana and other parts of the country, the crusade seeks to win more souls for Christ. 

Preparations So Far

Any first time visitor who enters the sprawling city of Tamale today does not need to be told of what event is coming in a few days time. Different sizes of billboards and posters can be found in every nook and cranny of the city, announcing the upcoming crusade.

Besides the billboards and posters one can spot everywhere in the city, jingles and announcements about the crusade are on a daily basis being played on various radio stations and during church services. 

Furthermore, a 1kilometre square of land adjacent to the Tamale Sports Stadium has already been prepared as venue for a crusade that is anticipated to bring together thousands of people from different parts of the country apart from those residing in Tamale.

Last Tuesday, a contingent of engineers from CfaN headquarters in Germany arrived in Tamale to set up the crusade ground. Lighting systems, sound systems and a stage for clergymen and choristers are almost set as at the time of filing this report.

CfaN crusade elsewhere in Africa

Security Arrangements

Bishop James Kofi Abbrey, Special Aid to the African Director of CfaN, Rev. John Darku, told journalists during a recent media briefing, that about 500 state security personnel would be engaged during the crusade. 

They include the police, military and personnel from other security agencies who will be charged to ensure law and order throughout the 3-day period that the crusade will be held.  

Bishop Abbrey encouraged all residents of the Tamale Metropolis and beyond to attend the crusade without harbouring any form of fear of having their personal effects and vehicles being stolen or broken into.

Benefits of The Crusade

The crusade starts at 3pm and closes at 7pm on a daily basis. Among the many benefits the crusade is expected to bring include the reduction of evil and crime, revival of churches, growth of churches, unity of the Body of Christ and transformation of communities and the economy. 

For instance, vendors of food, water, soft-drinks among others, are likely to flood the venue of the crusade whereas hotel accommodation would be overbooked. Transport operators such as taxi and bajaj drivers would seize the opportunity to make money from crusade attendants who will not come with their own means of transport.

Evg. Kolenda

Recent CfaN Activities

Over the last 50years, the phenomena of healing, salvation, miracles and transformation of lives have characterised the ministry of Evg. Bonnke. CfaN crusades in Ghana have also had the same effect. Crusades held in Tema, Accra, Ho and Tamale some 30years ago recorded huge crowds of over 100 thousand people who came to be healed and transformed by the power of God.

The Executive Director of CfaN Africa, Apostle John Kofi Darku, said in recent times, crusades held in Accra, Kumasi, Tema/Ashaiman and Sunyani have “recorded attendance of between 400 thousand and 800 thousand”.

According to him, the Reinhard Bonnke Gospel Crusade with Daniel Kolenda is “divinely conceived to bring salvation, healing, deliverance, fertility, spiritual peace and progress to the Tamale Metropolis”. 

Biographies of Bonnke And Kolenda

Evg. Bonnke is a German international Pentecostal evangelist, principally known for his gospel missions throughout Africa. Bonnke has been an evangelist and missionary in Africa since 1967. According to his biographer, “Bonnke has had 75 million recorded decisions for Christ made during his crusades. He has preached the gospel to more people than anyone in history.”  

Evangelist Daniel Kolenda is also a modern missionary who has led more than 17-million people to Christ face-to-face through massive open air evangelistic campaigns in some of the most dangerous, difficult and remote locations on earth.

Meanwhile, this is the ninth (9^th) time Evangelist Reinhard Bonnke is coming to Ghana and his second (2^nd) time in Tamale since his last visit some 30years ago. After the Tamale crusade, Ghana and for that matter Tamale may not see him again. This is because age is not on his side, hence his decision to handover the leadership mantle of CfaN to Evangelist Daniel Kolenda.