Members of the Teshie North branch of the Methodist Church have issued a three-day ultimatum to the national leadership of the church to halt the transfer of the resident minister. The church members are protesting the transfer of their resident minister, Rev Ishmael Ghansah, to the Kaneshie North branch. Rev Ghansah is alleged to have angered the church leadership for comments he made suggesting financial contributions being demanded by the church’s national office were too high. The church members say their action is in solidarity with their resident pastor, insisting, they would not budge unless the national leadership of the church rescinds its decision to transfer Rev Ishmael Ghansah. The church’s normal Easter Sunday service failed to come off as the members, clad in red attire and armbands, rather than the normal white worn to signify the resurrection of Christ, chanted protest songs: “Yeni abre, yeni abre koo.” To wit, we are serious. The members say the mother church is demanding 50,000 Ghana cedis from the church as part of its annual contribution to the church’s national kitty. According to them, Rev Ghansah, who has overseen the consistent growth of the church since he was posted there four years ago, voiced their concerns when he criticized the amount. They argue the amount is too high particularly since they are putting all their efforts into completing the church building. A lay preacher at the church Ako Adjei described the minister’s removal as unsavoury “which is not sweet to anybody; it affects everybody.” Officers of the church’s national office failed to resolve the matter with the local leadership. However, members of the church have given the national leadership until Wednesday to accede to their demand to restore Rev Ghansah, failing which they would shut down the church. Source: Myjoyonline.com/Ghana