The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) has paid a courtesy visit to the Church of Pentecost leadership to express gratitude for the church’s role in providing a haven to about 500 Ghanaians who fled xenophobic attacks in South Africa earlier this year.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, led a delegation including the Chief Director of the ministry, Kadidja Iddrisu, to the Church of Pentecost General Headquarters to meet the Chairman of the Church of Pentecost Ghana, Apostle Eric Nyamekye, in Accra yesterday to convey their appreciation on behalf of President John Dramani Mahama and the government for the church’s remarkable role in the evacuation of Ghanaians from South Africa.
According to data, the minister said, the church hosted about 500 Ghanaians for two months and two weeks across three branches, including “Campton Park branch, which hosted about 100 women and children; Johannesburg branch, which hosted 98 men only; and also the Pretoria West branch, with 298 Ghanaians”.
He added that Apostle Bernard Anyimedu, Head Pastor of the Church of Pentecost in South Africa, coordinated the relief efforts.
The minister praised the church for its swift humanitarian response, describing it as a demonstration of faith in action and partnership between the state and religious institutions in times of crisis.
Context
He recalled that following a recent wave of xenophobic attacks in South Africa, President Mahama took a "preemptive decision to prioritise the lives of Ghanaians."
The ministry, he said, launched a protest, summoned the acting High Commissioner, and subsequently decided to evacuate Ghanaians from the affected areas.
The minister explained that the first round of evacuation involved about three chartered flights, with an average of 300 passengers each.
These were Ghanaians who had quickly registered for evacuation.
However, as the situation deteriorated, more Ghanaians became stranded after groups such as "March and March" and "Dudula" went "on a rampage and targeted foreigners and immigrants in that country. Many had their shops looted and lives threatened, forcing them to flee their homes and businesses.
With South Africa’s vast geography and Ghana having only one mission in Pretoria, the Church of Pentecost stepped in, Mr Ablakwa stated.
“The Pentecost Church has more branches than we have embassies across the world, or even in South Africa.
So, the church decided that it will step in and offer a haven, offer refuge to Ghanaians who were fleeing,” he said.
Collaboration
For his part, the Chairman of the Church of Pentecost Ghana, Apostle Nyamekye, called for stronger collaboration between the church and the government in mission work both in Ghana and among Ghanaians in the diaspora.
He said the church’s influence now extends far beyond Ghana’s borders and presents an opportunity for state-church partnership.
“Moving forward, I think you may have to think about how we can collaborate here; we can collaborate in terms of our mission work here.
The church’s chairman stated that there were several areas where the church could support government efforts, but such opportunities were often missed due to lack of structured collaboration.
“There are certain things we can help with, but sometimes we don't get our collaboration.
So, you may want to think about that,” he said.
