Renewed clashes between the two factions in the Apostles Revelations Society (ARS) last Monday have brought the 68th Missionary Anniversary celebrations of the church to an abrupt end.

On one hand is a faction led by Apostle James Kwaku Amegah, while the other is the College of Apostles, made up of 12 ordained ministers of the church.

The ARS has been embroiled in a leadership scuffle since the death of its founder, Mawu Fe Ame C.N.K. Wovenu, in 1999.

Since then, clashes have ensued as to who becomes the next spiritual head of the church, sparking off several court actions, as well as heated debates and sometimes physical confrontations.

Earlier, the Ketu District Security Council (DISEC), sensing danger, had placed an injunction on the celebrations but had been compelled to soften its stance when it realised that people had travelled from afar to attend the event.

An agreement was then reached between the two factions with the intent of allowing the celebrations to go ahead. But one of the factions broke the agreement, attempted to disrupt the proceedings and in the process injured a policeman who was rushed to the Saint Anthony Hospital at Dzodze.

Some policemen were quickly deployed to the area and the celebration was brought to an end, since the security and safety of the old, women and children could not be guaranteed.

When the Daily Graphic visited the place, armed policemen were seen patrolling. However, individuals who wanted to stay around to commune with God were allowed to do so.

According to investigations by the Daily Graphic, the College of Apostles first approached the police to obtain a permit and to seek protection, which was granted.

Information had it that a few days to the celebrations, the Amegah faction also went to the police for a permit but the police refused on the grounds that their application had come in too late; more so, permit had already been granted to the College of Apostles.

At that point, DISEC realised that if the celebrations were allowed to proceed, there would be possible clashes and, therefore, placed an injunction on the entire celebrations.

Following that, the College of Apostles invited DISEC to the grounds to assess the situation when it realised that people had travelled from other parts of the country, as well as other countries, to attend the celebrations and thought it would be the best not to deny them the opportunity.

Consequently, a meeting was arranged between the two factions, where it was agreed that nine people, including Apostle Amegah, should join the College of Apostles for the programme to continue.

The College of Apostles agreed to the new arrangement and an undertaking was then drawn in the presence of DISEC and the Volta Regional Police Commander, DCOP Bernard Dery.

Proceedings went on smoothly on Sunday but on Monday morning, as the service was ongoing, a number of people from the Amega faction thronged the place and interrupted the meeting, amidst drumming and noise-making.

They also carried placards with inscriptions such as "No Amegah, no service", "Amegah should come back to the stage", "Amegah is our man".

Thus supporters of Apostle Amega were calling for him to single-handedly officiate the celebrations from the beginning to the end else they would not allow the celebrations to go on.

Meanwhile, Apostle Amegah himself was absent when all these took place.

The police attempted to forestall any occurrence and rushed in to restrain the Amegah faction and in the process stones were thrown at them, which led to one policeman sustaining injury.

He has since been treated and dis¬charged but the police had to use tear gas and crowd control equipment to disperse the group and consequently the celebrations were brought to an abrupt end.

When contacted, the Volta Regional Police Commander confirmed the story and said the celebrations had been brought to an end, since the safety of the vulnerable, mainly the elderly, women and children, could no longer be guaranteed.

The 68th Missionary Anniversary, which began on December 22, 2007, was to end on December 28, 2007.


Source: Daily Graphic