The Executive President of the Ghana Baptist Convention, Rev. Enoch Nii Narh Thompson, has urged all key stakeholders to ensure that Tuesday’s by-election at Akwatia in the Eastern Region is violence-free.

He said, “The election should be a departure from the usual violence that often characterises previous by-elections held in the country.”

He therefore charged the Electoral Commission, security agencies, political parties, and the government to ensure that the outcome of the upcoming election would be peaceful and devoid of electoral violence.

Session

Rev. Thompson made the call at the 62nd Annual Session of the Ghana Baptist Convention held at the Baptist Women’s Retreat and Resource Centre at Ejura in the Ejura Sekyedumase Municipality of the Ashanti Region, on Saturday, August 30, 2025.

As part of the session, 97 new ministers were ordained to lead various branches of the church across the country.

The four-day event was on the theme: “The Disciplined Church – Reflecting Christ to the World (Ephesians 5:27).” The session, which is the convention’s highest decision-making body, also coincided with the re-election of new leadership for the convention.

Rev. Thompson was re-elected President, while Rev. Charles Oppong-Poku was elected Vice President of the convention.

Repeat

He said there should not be a repeat of the pockets of violence that occurred during the recent by-election in Ablekuma North in the Greater Accra Region, stressing that, “As a democratic country, violence should not be part of our elections.”

He explained that the by-election was only an opportunity for the people to elect a new Member of Parliament following the passing of the sitting MP, adding, “Therefore, it should be devoid of violence to enable the constituents to elect a befitting replacement to represent them in Parliament.”

Following the demise of the sitting MP, Ernest Yaw Kumi, the EC has scheduled Tuesday, September 2, 2025, for the by-election.

Illegal mining

Commenting on other national issues, Rev. Thompson expressed concern about illegal mining and other activities that continue to have devastating consequences on the environment, describing such acts as wrongdoing and sin against God.

He said true Christians were supposed to be custodians of the earth and stewards of natural resources, and therefore urged the government, Civil Society Organisations and other stakeholders to end the destructive effects of illegal mining on land, forests and water bodies.

“As a church, we believe that illegal mining, water pollution, and indiscriminate waste disposal should be addressed so that we can live healthy and happy lives to serve God,” he said, adding that humanity is expected to take good care of God’s creation.

Advice to ministers

Advising the newly ordained ministers, Rev. Thompson cautioned them against embarking on personal self-expression in their ministry.

“Your ministry from this point forward is not a personal self-manifestation but should be a corporate representation of the body of Jesus Christ through the Ghana Baptist Convention,” he stressed.

He reminded them that although they had been called by God and prepared for the ministry, they must avoid disassociation from the convention as had happened with some ministers in the past.

Preach the word

He charged the new ministers to preach the word in season and out of season to the glory of God, urging them to “correct, rebuke and encourage the congregation with great patience and careful instruction.”

He further admonished them to keep their heads up in all situations, endure hardship, and remain focused despite the challenges of ministry.

“You must commit your soul, spirit and mind to be enduring, to stand in the face of adversities and challenges, and to continue serving God,” he said.

Shift

Delivering the sermon, a former Principal of the Baptist Theological Seminary, Abuakwa, Rev. George Solomon Mallet, observed that there seemed to be a paradigm shift away from hearing and understanding the word of God.

He said many Christians were no longer interested in attending programmes that focused on biblical teaching but were more inclined towards prophetic events and other gatherings.

“The word of God contains so much that if learnt and fully understood, it will inure to the benefit of all mankind,” he said.

Gratitude

In a brief remark on behalf of the new ministers, Lady Rev. Mabel Koomson expressed delight that, after going through a rigorous process for the past three years, they had successfully been ordained.

“We give glory to God for His guidance and protection,” she said.