National Prayer, Thanksgiving Week launched

Tuesday February 23, 2010

By Edmund Mingle

The annual National Week of Prayer, Fasting and Thanksgiving, slated for March 7 to 14, 2010, was launched in Accra yesterday with a call on all Ghanaians to participate in the event aimed at seeking God’s guidance and blessing for the nation.
A Prayer Guide, detailing the topics and issues the prayers are required to focus on, was launched.

The national event, which was proposed by President Mills, is being organised by a team of religious leaders of the various church groupings across the country.

By the Guide, Ghanaians are expected to fast and pray daily from March 7 to 13, after which the week would be climaxed with thanksgiving services on March 14.

The national thanksgiving would be held at the Independence Square in Accra while local level events would be held at designated placed in the regional and district capitals.

The Muslim community is also expected to participate with the holding of national prayers in mosques around the country on Friday, March 12.

A communiqué issued by the organizing team and read by Right Rev. Dr. Yaw Frimpong-Manso, Chairman of the Christian Council of Ghana, proposed that the Week was additional declared a National Development Week, to increase awareness on development issues among Ghanaians.

They also proposed that the Presidency instituted an annual Presidential Breakfast as part of the nation’s spirituality in governance.

Most Rev. Charles Palmer-Buckle, Metropolitan Archbishop of Accra and acting President of the Catholic Bishops Conference, who chaired the launching, urged all to participate in the event, saying “a nation that prays together, stays together.”

According to the Prayer Guide, Sunday, March 7, would be used pray for a national revival after for development after 53years of gaining independence from colonial rule.

March 8 is a day for confession of sins, and Ghanaians would be expected to pray against the increasing greed, dishonesty and corruption in the Ghanaian society.

The following day would be used to pray for the President and his Vice, Ministers, DCEs and their staff, and the security services that they may enjoy good health and work with integrity.

On March 10, prayers would focus on the Legislature, Judiciary and Media that they may serve the nation with truthfulness and honesty.

Prayers for God’s guidance for an effective development and management of the nation’s natural resources such as oil, gold and water bodies would be held on March 11.

The growth of the economy, industries, the private sector, investments and job-creation initiatives would be the focus of prayers on March 12.

The youth and children and educational institutions would be prayed for on March 13 for divine guidance in addressing the menace of indiscipline, sexual immorality, occultism and drug abuse among young people.

On March 14, President Mills and leaders from various sections of the Ghanaian society are expected to attend the national event at the Independence Square in Accra where thousands of Ghanaians are expected to turn out to pray for the nation with one common voice.

The organizing team is made up of the leaders of the Christian Council of Ghana, National Catholic Secretariat, Ghana Pentecostal Council, National Association of Charismatic and Christian Churches and Council of Independent Churches, with representatives of government.