Duncan Williams Vindicated?

When early last year he advised Ghanaians to seek the face of God in the midst of economic difficulties facing the country, many where those, especially in the opposition New Patriotic Party and their ilk, who berated and ridiculed the founder and General Overseer of Action Chapel International, Archbishop Nicholas Duncan Williams.

These same people lambasted the late former President, John Evans Atta Mills, accusing him of turning the then seat of government, the Osu Castle, into a prayer camp, thus, compelling the late president to retort: “As a nation, we should know that it is God who is the president of this nation and indeed I owe nobody an apology for giving Him His due”.

Surprisingly, and without any remorse or shame, these same NPP members, who mocked the respected man of God and former President Mills for seeking the face of God in solving the country’s problems, have not only turned to God in search of divine intervention to the party’s never-ending internecine conflict, they have indeed, set aside one-week for prayer and fasting.

The declaration of the one-week prayer and fasting followed recent wave of internal wrangling arising out of the death of the NPP’s Upper East Chairman, Mahama Adams, and subsequent plots by Nana Akufo-Addo loyalists to oust National Chairman, Paul Afoko and General Secretary, Kwabena Agyepong.

As the party’s 2016 flag bearer, Nana Akufo Addo and elders failed/refused and or, were unable to restore calm and normalcy in the NPP, National Women Organizer of the party, Madam Otiko Afisa Djaba, who has blamed 'evil forces' for the woes of the party, had little choice than to resort to Archbishop Duncan Williams' remedy for solving problems; by declaring a one week period of prayer and fasting for the party.

According to her, the nationwide fasting and prayer will offer opportunity for “all NPP sympathizers, supporters, friends, activist, party functionaries and women to cry to the Lord to provide divine mercy, wisdom and intervention for our Party. At times of great pain and anguish we must seek Gods counsel and guidance.”

Madam Otiko Afisa Djaba's ‘campaign’ was instantly and enthusiastically endorsed by Nana Akufo-Addo. The party has since embarked on the one-week prayer and fasting intended to cast out ‘demons of confusion’ out of the party.

Speaking at the launch of the prayer and fasting at the party headquarters in Accra last Monday, Nana Akufo-Addo said posterity will not forgive the present NPP generation if they allow petty squabbles and confusion to deny them victory over the NDC in the 2016 elections.

He appealed to party members to channel their energies into convincing the electorate to return the NPP back to power. Nana Addo also appealed to the rank and file to help restore peace in the party.

It has been the stock in trade of members of the NPP to ridicule people who turn to God for divine guidance in times of adversity, but they (NPP) do same when faced with similar challenges and indeed defend their decision to the hilt.

It would be recalled that during the eight year rule of former President Kufuor when the nation was hit with unprecedented power crisis, the NPP commissioned men of God to pray at the Akosombo dam site in order for the rains to fill the dam.

Similarly, in the run-up to the 2012 election, Nana Akufo Addo and the NPP, after mocking former President Mills for turning the Osu castle into prayer camp, organized prayer vigil at the Sekondi Gyandu park for God’s blessing to enable the party win the elections.

As if that was not enough, the party again organized a vigil at its headquarters ahead of the verdict of the novel eight month-long election petition, to pray for God’s intervention.

While members of the NPP have forcefully defended their decisions to seek the face of God in times of difficulties, they have severally chastised others including the late president Mills, Archbishop Duncan Williams and others who call for prayers to help solve the country’s problem.

Indeed, the NPP 2016 flag bearer, Nana Akufo-Addo is on record to have counseled President Mahama to stick to practically finding solutions to problems facing the country other than resorting to prayers, saying “prayer is no substitute for hard work”

The General Overseer of Action Chapel International has on several occasions called on Ghanaians to back President Mahama with prayers to solve the country’s problems, notably, depreciation of the currency, the cedi and the frustrating power crisis.

The latest one was his call on members of his church to “stop talking” about hardships in the country pray for the president.
According to him, prayer is capable of solving every predicament, “whatever you think the president is doing or is not doing, if you pray for him and engage the hand of God; the hand of God can move some things.”

“Whatever concerns you have; whether it is the President or the vice president or finance minister or the governor of the Bank of Ghana, just take it to prayer and stop arguing and talking. Just stop it and take it to prayer,” he told his church Sunday.

Archbishop Duncan-Williams led the church to pray for President John Mahama.

“…. We are going to pray for the recovery of the economy. We want to pray for the President that some way, somehow, whatever it is that is blocking him from taking some decisions; whether it is the party, the god fathers of the party whoever, that God will cause him to have the audacity to break the status quo, and make the changes that are required and that those that must be removed must be removed,” he stated.

Source: Al-Hajj