Christian Council of Ghana

The Christian Council of Ghana (CCG) is an umbrella group that unites 15 churches in Ghana.^[1] The council has its members from Charismatic, Pentecostal, Orthodox and other churches.

History of the council

The CCG was formed on 30 October 1929.^[1] Five churches, namely:

• African Methodist Episcopal (AME),
• Zion Church, English Church Mission (Anglican),
• Evangelical Presbyterian Church (then the Ewe Presbyterian Church),
• Presbyterian Church of the Gold Coast (now Presbyterian Church Ghana), and
• the Methodist Church Ghana (then the Wesleyan Methodist Church)

united aiming to work with various congregations on social matters and to speak for the voiceless in society.^[1][2]

Membership of the council

The council It has been restructured several times since its formation. It currently includes 15 churches and two Christian organizations.^[1][3]

Churches

1. African Methodist Episcopal Church
2. African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church
3. Christ Evangelical Mission
4. Christian Methodist Episcopal Church
5. Eden Revival Church International
6. Evangelical Church of Ghana
7. Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ghana
8. Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Ghana
9. Ghana Baptist Convention
10. Ghana Mennonite Church
11. Greek Orthodox Church (Patriarchate of Alexandria)
12. Methodist Church, Ghana
13. Presbyterian Church of Ghana
14. Religious Society of Friends
15. Salvation Army

Organizations

1. Young Men’s Christian Association
2. Young Women’s Christian Association

The council executives are Rev. Prof. Frimpong Manso (Chairman) and Rev. Dr. Fred Debge (General secretary).

Projects

The council undertakes various projects in Ghana. One of its major goals is the elimination of stigma and discrimination of people living with HIV/AIDS.^[4] The project trained community members in areas of the country that had high HIV/AIDS prevalence of 8–9%. The training involved basic facts about HIV/AIDS, stigma and discrimination among others.^[5]

The council has also set up an Interfaith Unit to educate Christians on the need for peaceful existence and tolerance among members of different faiths.^[5] The School Dropout Scholarship Programme promotes education among Liberian refugees in the Buduburam refugee settlement near Accra. The programme also identifies the causes and consequences of school dropout among the refugees.^[5]

In governance and nation building, the council monitors the activities of political parties and professional bodies in the country and offers advice to them. In 2005 the council appealed to Ghanaians and professional bodies to put the country's economy nation first and spend more time discussing issues of national interest concerning education, health and poverty.^[6] In 2011 the council encouraged political party leaders and their followers to avoid the use of provocative language in their speeches.^[7]

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d} "Welcome to the Christian Council of Ghana .". www.christiancouncilofghana.org/. http://www.christiancouncilofghana.org/. Retrieved 22 May 2011. 
2. ^ "Organization profile". www.ecuspace.net. http://www.ecuspace.net/eisp.nsf/c976d90432fb1c57c1256aea0059c9e9/04a574cb44135167c1256c77003f668e?OpenDocument. Retrieved 22 May 2011. 
3. ^ "Christian Council of Ghana". www.oikoumene.org. http://www.oikoumene.org/gr/member-churches/regions/africa/ghana/ccg.html. Retrieved 22 May 2011. 
4. ^ "PROJECT PROFILE". www.christiancouncilofghana.org. http://www.christiancouncilofghana.org/wacc.html. Retrieved 23 May 2011. 
5. ^ ^{a b c} "Christian Council of Ghana". www.globalministries.org. http://www.globalministries.org/africa/projects/christian-council-of-ghana.html. Retrieved 23 May 2011. 
6. ^ "Christian Council of Ghana: Put Country First". www.christiantoday.com. http://www.christiantoday.com/article/christian.council.of.ghana.put.country.first/4169.htm. Retrieved 23 May 2011. 
7. ^ "Christian Council decries acrimonious language". www.ghanaweb.com. http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/religion/artikel.php?ID=203688. Retrieved 23 May 2011.