Day: March 31, 2024

Pastor Francis Kodom, the Agbozo Location Pastor, Deeper Life Bible Church, in the Sunyani Municipality has cautioned Christian youth to refrain from the practice of using online bible versions, instead of printed copies during church services.

He expressed worry about the uncontrolled use of online bible versions downloaded on mobile phones nowadays which apparently turned to distract and deny many unsuspecting youth the required blessings from God during church services.

Pastor Kodom suggested to the youth to change from such practice and ensure that they use their online Bibles only for private studies in their homes and in schools.

The man of God gave the advice when preaching a sermon on the topic ‘social media pressure and Christian living,’ during an Easter Retreat of the youth division of the church, underway at Ayakomaso, near Nsoatre in the Sunyani West Municipality.

Hundreds of young people drawn from the various districts and locations of the church are gathered attending the four-day retreat
of the church on the theme ‘The all-sufficient Jesus’.

The Easter Retreat has created an opportunity for the young people to listen to live transmission sermons via satellite from Dr William Kumuyi, the General Superintendent of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry.

Pastor Kodom advised the young people to also guard themselves by ensuring that they access and use the new media handles progressively to the glory of God.

He said social media handles like WhatsApp, X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook had numerous benefits, but users who could not control themselves in their use had caged their souls, unable to liberate themselves.

Besides research and academic work, Pastor Kodom told the youth another productive way they could use the new media handles was to use the tools for active evangelism.

He said because the new media had no boundaries, and carried exertive powers, using the various handles to preach the word of God remained an effective way to advance the Kingdom of God on earth.

Pastor Kodom reminded
the Christian youth that the social media could easily sway them from the Christian faith and damage their souls.

Through the unproductive use of the social media handles, many youth are not caged in online pornography and initiated into occult groups, unable to liberate themselves, he stated.

That notwithstanding, Pastor Kodom said the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the captain of the Christian faith, had divine powers to set free those held in sin and the captivity of the devil.

Pastor Kodom said Jesus Christ had the power and could easily free believers from those captivities and bondages of the devil, but only if they were ready to handle themselves to God him without compulsion.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Addis Ababa: Inhabitants of various cities in Oromia region have today participated in a road running to reaffirm their support for the successful completion of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).

A five-kilometer road race has come at a time when the 13th year laying of the foundation of the renaissance dam will be commemorated at the end of this month under the theme: ‘Together We Made It Possible.’

The construction of Grand Renaissance Dam has reached 95 percent, the Office of National Coordination for the Construction of the Dam disclosed.

The dam with its 13th year laying of the foundation is being celebrated in various events including road race, panel discussion, fundraising campaigns and other activities.

Today, thousands of residents in five towns of Oromia region have participated in a road running to display their support for the dam, it was learned.

Speaking to ENA, the participants of the race said they have also contributed a lot in terms of financial support through bond purchases and gifts since the beginning of the dam construction.

The construction of the GERD which commenced in 2011 is now near completion, it was indicated.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia joined The Maker’s House Chapel International (TMH) on Sunday to commemorate Easter, as Christians across the globe mark the resurrection of Jesus Christ and His triumph over sin.

In his message to the Church, the Vice President asked Christians to let the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and His ultimate victory over death be a source of hope that they could overcome every challenge, no matter how insurmountable it seemed.

He said Easter, ‘is a reminder that even in our darkest moments, there is always a promise of a new beginning, a chance to rise again in a path towards a brighter future’.

He added: ‘Today we stand on the threshold of a new dawn. Let us march forward with courage and conviction, knowing that the best days of our nation are yet to come.’

The Vice President delivered his message at the Destiny Arena, the Church Auditorium.

He was accompanied by several members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), including some Ministers of State, Members of Parliament, parliame
ntary aspirants and party executives.

The Vice President noted that most often, people lost hope in times of economic uncertainty, political turmoil, and social upheaval.

Referencing Isaiah 40: 31 and Zachariah 4: 6, he urged Christians to put their trust in God and rely on Him to draw the strength to face the adversities of life.

He said: ‘Let us be reminded that our strength does not come from our own power or abilities but from the faith in a higher power. A power that transcends our understanding and guides us towards our true purpose.’

With Ghana gaining the respect of the international community for being the beacon of stability and democracy in Africa, Dr Bawumia reminded Ghanaians not to take that for granted, but to remain committed to upholding democratic principles and the rule of law.

He added: ‘On this occasion of Easter, let us also take a moment to pray for a peaceful and orderly election process. Let us pray for wisdom and discernment for all those involved in the electoral process, from
the candidates and political parties to the Electoral Commission and Security Agencies.’

Dr Michael Boadi Nyamekye, Lead Pastor of TMH, said the resurrection of Jesus Christ served as the seal of the Christian faith and paved the way for mankind to have a direct relationship with God.

He said God had given human beings the ability to do all things, and once they put their trust in Him they could accomplish great things in life.

Dr Nyamekye described Vice President Bawumia as a good man and a friend.

Dr Nyamekye prayed for him and the rest of the NPP team, asking God to order their steps in all their endeavours.

Source: Ghana News Agency

An armed group fighting for the independence of the Anglophone regions, known as the Ribbons of Ambazonia, a separatist faction based in Meme and Ndian Divisions of the South West Region, has said they have banned Monday(s) farming activities across the two divisions.

The group said that self-style general Millepede and Johnny Mad Dog recently placed the ban as a sign of respect for Monday’s ghost town, which was instituted on January 9, 2017, by the outlawed Cameroon Anglophone Civil Society Consortium.

Locals have been quick to criticize the ban, insinuating, that most separatist fighters are armed bandits.

Others were quick to point out that, separatist have placed the ban, to enable them to carry out their criminal activities.

To them, separatists intend to steal cocoa from locals, as prizes for the cash crop keeps skyrocketing. They also questioned why the ban is only coming when cocoa prices have gone up.

Some farmers in Nake Bongwana were sent back home last Monday when they tried going to their f
arms.

A kilogram of Cocoa now sells for a minimum of 4,000 FCFA in the South West Region.

Source: Cameroon News Agency

The SA Housing and Infrastructure Fund (SAHIF), the largest black private investor in South Africa’s optical fibre industry, has embarked on an ambitious international drive to raise capital to accelerate the expansion of high-speed internet access throughout the country.

SAHIF CEO Rali Mampeule said the company aimed to secure up to $225 million around (R4,1Billion) in investments from both domestic and international sources, including pension funds, development finance institutions (DFIs), and limited partners (LPs).SAHIF through one of its subsidiary has secured $38 Million around (R700 Million) funding to recapitalize its business by settling the fund’s existing facilities with AIIM and Old Mutual Hybrids Equity.

‘This successful capital raise has provided SAHIF with a robust investment platform to fast-track ongoing high-speed fibre internet access projects, particularly through its investments in MFN as an independent institutional shareholder not funded by its co- shareholder anymore ,’ said Mampeule
. ‘We want this initiative to pave the way for equitable access to high-speed internet, drive economic growth, and nurture innovation within previously underserved communities.’

In June 2021, SAHIF, together with Old Mutual’s African Infrastructure Investment Managers (AIIM) and STOA, a foreign investment vehicle that is based in France, acquired the 25.8% interest in MetroFibre Networx held by Sanlam Private Equity, African Rainbow Capital and a minority shareholder, the transaction made the three(3) entities to be the 80% majority shareholders of MFN. MetroFibre was launched in 2010 and operated as a provider of fibre-to-the-business. It owns and manages its core network, a globally compliant Carrier Ethernet 2.0 open-access network and has expanded its service offering to residential and corporate customers.

SAHIF’s capital raise comes on the back of the announcement in 2022 by MetroFibre that it had successfully finalised a R5 billion debt finance package from Standard Bank to support its continued fibr
eoptic data network rollout across SA. This funding would help it to increase its reach by 500,000 households by 2025.

Mampeule emphasised the significance of this capital infusion, stating, ‘We started knocking on doors in Davos, Switzerland, earlier this year, and we are currently in talks with several local and international pension funds, DFIs, and LPs. These engagements have been very fruitful, and we believe the capital secured will create a valuable investment platform from which SAHIF will scale its current investments.’

He said that in addition to its focus on digital infrastructure, SAHIF’s capital injection would expedite the delivery of affordable housing and facilitate strategic investments within the financial services sector. These initiatives would encompass innovative home loan products and the leveraging of cutting-edge technologies aligned with the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) and Shelter Tech, both within South Africa and across Sub-Saharan Africa.

Furthermore, SAHIF has adopted a
n eco-friendly business approach, prioritising environmental, social, and governance (ESG) investments. Recognising the critical role of renewable energy in diversifying its asset portfolio and driving sustainable growth, the organisation has assembled a team of seasoned renewable energy investment professionals.

This dedicated team will spearhead SAHIF’s expansion into the renewable energy value chain, ensuring a comprehensive ESG investment strategy within the utilities businesses in the African continent.

About SAHIF

SAHIF is accelerating the delivery of serviced land to South Africans. SAHIF acquires vacant and unused land near the centres of towns and cities for conversion into zoned and serviced stands to enhance the speedy delivery of serviced stands to middle and low-income earning households to build their own homes close to places of work, education, healthcare, public transport and other amenities while investing in digital connectivity around the country. Since 2019 SAHIF has delivered 68 000 l
and housing opportunities to South African families and, in the process, created thousands of job and entrepreneurial opportunities. A new era of expansion of this model by SAHIF, which involves making serviced land available, has proven to be highly successful in South Africa. Now, this model has been launched to the rest of the African continent through the newly established subsidiary fund called African Housing and Infrastructure Fund (AHIF).

Source: Cameroon News Agency