The Superintended Minister of the West Cape Coast Circuit of Methodist Church, Very Rev. Ebenezer Boateng-Annimful has urged students and staff of the University to pray and support the new Vice-Chancellor to succeed in his term of office.
That, he noted, would ensure the forward march of the University to achieve its vision and mission.
Very Rev. Boateng-Annimful gave the advice at the Vice-Chancellor’s Induction Thanksgiving Service for Prof. Joseph Ghartey Ampiah at the New Examination Centre (NEC), North Campus. The non-denominational service was on theme: " Called to Serve".
The Superintended Minister of the West Cape Coast Circuit of Methodist Church emphasised the need for Christians to love, obey and serve God in all their endeavours. "Our common task as believers is to love, obey and serve God, as we serve humanity and as we serve society," he stressed.
Very Rev. Boateng-Annimful advised Christians to eschew all forms of corruption and disabuse their minds that leadership was about making money and acquiring wealth. Rather, he said, leadership was a call to serve humanity. The Very Reverend Boateng-Annimful advised students to do away with examination malpractice. In the same vein, he entreated staff of the University not to engage in social vices that would mar the image of the University. He called on Christians to live by the tenets of Christianity and avoid selfishness and greed in their daily lives.
Quoting from John 10:10, "The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." In this regard, the Methodist Bishop noted that if Christians had faith in God, God would restore what the devil had taken from them.
For his part, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Joseph Ghartey Ampiah, expressed profound gratitude to the Chaplaincy Board for organising the programme. Prof. Ampiah, who described himself as Orthodox Pentecostal, called for obedience and discipline among Christians.
"For the next four years, I want total discipline among Christians. I want us to obey the rules of the University". He said, while quoting from 2 Corinthians 10:5-6 to buttress his point.
He announced that during his term as Vice-Chancellor, the University would provide decent places of worship for the various denominations on campus. The Vice-Chancellor, who was accompanied by his wife and two children, implored the congregation to remember him in prayers as he leads the University for the next four years. He assured the congregation that he would put the University under Christ control.
To that end, Prof. Ampiah called for prayers, fasting and everything possible from the congregation in order to "overthrow the Kingdom of darkness and Satan that hovers over the University and bring it down and establish the true hand of God over this University for us to have progress and prosperity".
Intercessory prayers, led by the Hall Master of Kwame Nkrumah Hall, Mr. David Adukpo, were said for the Vice-Chancellor, the University Council, and the University Community.
Present at the event were the Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Prof. K.T. Oduro; the Registrar, Mr. John K. Nyan; some Provosts, Deans, lecturers, students and the clergy.