Ghana King Visits Former Jersey Church
Nana Amoatia Ofori Panin II, King of Akyem Abuakwa in the Eastern Region of Ghana paid a visit to his former home of New Jersey Saturday, April 7th. The King, who prior to his enstoolment and relocation to Ghana was a New Jersey resident and member of the First Baptist Church of Lincoln Gardens, led a high-powered delegation of royalty of Akyem Abuakwa to the United States.
History was made April 7, 2018 when the First Baptist Church of Lincoln Gardens in Somerset, New Jersey hosted a mini-durbar for the Okyenhene, King of Akyem Abuakwa in the Eastern Region of Ghana. The King, Nana Amoatia Ofori Panin II, who prior to his enstoolment and relocation to Ghana was a New Jersey resident and member of the First Baptist Church of Lincoln Gardens, led a high-powered delegation of royalty of Akyem Abuakwa to the U.S.
In a brief introductory remark, the leader of the Church, the Reverend Dr. DeForest B. Soaries, Jr. reminded the capacity-filled audience that, even though Africans were brought to the U.S. as slaves in the early 1600s, the forces of negativity could not destroy the cord that ties Africa-Americans to the motherland. “I don’t need a DNA because I have a home in Akyem Abuakwa,” the affable Dr. Soaries added.
The Reverend Dr. DeForest B. Soaries, Jr. was enstooled Nkosuohene (Chief of Development) in Kyebi, the traditional capital of Akyem Abuakwa, with the Stool name Nana Kwadwo Ababio. Dr. Soaries, in his capacity as Chief of Development, is spearheading efforts to build a mega resource center near Okyenhene’s Palace – Ofori Panin’s Fie – in Kyebi After the languages of the Seseben (Telling horns) and Atumpan (Talking drums), the Okyenhene, who is also the President of the Eastern Region House of Traditional Rulers in Ghana, pointed out that the tenets of love were inculcated in him while a member of the First Baptist Church in Lincoln Gardens.
He implied that he found courage in the leadership of Dr. Soaries and contrasted that to the current political leadership of his country Ghana.
Paraphrasing Denzel Washington, the king said that making a living and being productive in contemporary life in itself is not enough, but rather, making
a productive difference in someone else’s life is what really matters. He philosophized that “children should go to bed and dream like children.” The King urged investors to come to Ghana for investments. “Partner us for viable ventures with your capital and experience to transform lives, instead of handouts,” he
urged.
The royal delegation from Ghana included Daasebre Boama Darko, Adontenhene (Main or Central Command in War formation of yesteryear) and others.
Present were H.E. Adjei Bawuah, Ghana’s Ambassador to the U.S.; H.E. Abena Busia, Ghana’s Ambassador to Brazil; H.E. Dr. Hassana Alidou, Niger’s Ambassador to the U.S.; Professor Samuel Amoako, Ghana’s Consul General, New York City; Dr. Ousseina Alidou, Professor, Rutgers University; Distinguished Professor Dr. Cheryl Wall, Rutgers University; Dr. Leonard Jefferies (aka Nana Kwaku Dua Agyeman II), a community icon and Development Chief of Agogo, Ghana; Professor Kofi Asare Opoku, ace traditionalist and walking encyclopedia of Akan culture; Dr. E. Obiri Addo, Associate Professor of Religion and African Studies, Drew University, Madison, NJ; as well as members of the Ghanaian community and civic and religious leaders. Cultural drumming and dancing were provided by the professional Adamfo Cultural Ensemble of Syracuse, New York.
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on Apr 26 2018. Filed under top stories.
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