The Anglican Church of Ghana celebrated President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo's 79th birthday on Thursday, March 29, 2023, by hosting a special church ceremony at Jubilee House on April 2.
The ceremony was brief but powerful and presided over by the Most Reverend Dr. Cyril Kobina Ben-Smith, Primate and Metropolitan Archbishop of the Internal Province of Ghana of the Anglican Church.
A communion ceremony was for the President and his Anglican family, and only a few people showed up. So there was nothing to rehydrate.
The Right Reverend Dr. Daniel Sylvanus Mensah Torto, Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Accra, and Archbishop Justice Ofei Akrofi, formerly Primate of the Church of the Province of West Africa and Anglican Bishop of Accra, helped the Most Reverend Dr. Ben-Smith.
The President was surprised with a birthday cake and floral bouquet in the foyer right after the ceremony. To help him carve the cake, the Vice-President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, and the Chief of Staff, Akosua Frema Osei-Opare, joined the First Lady, Rebecca Akufo-Addo, and their children.
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The President, who had used the foyer on his way to the conference room only to return after about 20 minutes to such a surprise, was taken aback by the cake, the bouquet, as well as a singing group performing some of his favorite songs, especially James Varrick Armaah's well-known choral song, "Oye."
Rev. Dr. Ben-Smith, who gave the sermon and spoke of 'Adonai's' goodness, urged President Akufo-Addo to keep relying on God and not his knowledge in all that he did.
He claimed that the Anglican Church's Archbishops and Bishops honored the President and his family's good fortune in life, health, and virtue.
According to Rev. Dr. Ben-Smith, the President's life clearly illustrated the Bible's assertion that the Lord's steadfast love endured forever and that His mercies were new every morning.
He also stated that the purpose of the service was to give thanks to God for the blessings of life and favor, as well as for all the good things He had done.
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Rev. Ben-Smith cited Psalm 103 of the Holy Bible in saying that all people should do the same, just as David encouraged his soul to bless the Lord by speaking well of the Lord in a spirit of admiration and appreciation.
He observed that in commemorating the day, they concurred with David that the God of Jacob protected the President and that Adonai, the Lord of Host, was with him.
Recognition
God is the only God without a rival, so we should "offer ourselves to him unconditionally," according to Rev. Ben-Smith, who encouraged the President to continue looking up to him.
In addition to saying, "Your Excellency, He will continue to remember you," he clarified that God was a God of remembrance who did not forget those who relied on him.
After the cake was cut, Dr. Bawumia said: "Today we are honoring the 79th birthday of my boss, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. It's incredible, and we all hope to be as resilient as you are when we're 79.
The Vice-President claimed that the President had been incredibly blessed by God and that Ghanaians were grateful to him and asked God to extend his life and keep him healthy.
