One hundred and seventy years of the arrival of the Missionaries on Akuapem, is one of the greatest blessings the people of Akuapem have enjoyed. The effect of this endeavour is tremendous in the lives of the people and the sacrifices made by those foreigners are amazing and challenging.

It has really brought a revolution in Akuapem, out of which great Christians, scholars, farmers, teachers and public servants have emerged. There are lots of reminiscence of the good work of the Missionaries all over Akuapem. These include schools, cocoa farms, coffee, good houses, cocoyam, mangoes, avocado pear, breadfruit, Twi Bible and Twi orthography.

They have left us a legacy we should be proud of. We owe the Almighty God a depth of gratitude to the Basel Missionaries, and our brethren fro the West Indies, we are appreciative of your sacrifices.

These foreigners have played their part and as Ephraim Amu rightly wrote in his song, “ Adu me ne wo so se yebeye bi atoa so”. The challenge is, if foreigners can make such sacrifices for us, what shall we the indigenes do for ourselves?

Shall we join Rudyard Kipling to say: “Land of our Birth, our faith, our pride, for whose dear sake our father died, O mother land, we pledge to thee; Head, heart, and hand through the years to be.”

REV. C. B. AHWIRENG

PRESBYTERY CHAIRPERSON

May I, at this juncture congratulate you for this celebration. I pray that the wonderful act of self-denial by the founding fathers which we celebrate today serve as a positive platform to re-engineer and re-launch the church to new heights.

God bless you and long live the memories of the missionaries in the lives of our people