Bugwere King receives a royal welcome in Ghana

 

GHANA- It's never common for the cultural kings to meet and embrace their beliefs. That's what happened when the King of Bugwere, Ikumbania Bishop John Christom Wayabire paid a courtesy visit to four kings in Ghana. The four kings embraced their Christian beliefs. The cultural leader called on the Okyenhene Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin of Okyenhene Kingdom with his 10 chiefs, one of the biggest Kingdoms in Ghana.

 

The King was seeking partnerships and collaborations as well as extending an invitation to cultural institutions and Government officials to attend his 5th coronation anniversary and the Summit of Africa cultural leaders from different parts of Africa, which will take place in Uganda.

 

The cultural Summit, which is the first of its kind will be an annual event and will be rotational to other traditional institutions in Uganda. It will bring traditional leaders in Africa together to share experiences and exchange norms that transform society and their institutions.

 

Wayabire was also able to attend the Durbar Cultural event that was hosted in Prestea Western Region where he addressed the gathering on the spiritual roles of kings and traditional chiefs in transforming society and uniting the people of Africa as a whole.

 

 

During the visit, the Bugwere King was able to meet a number of his counterparts at their respective palaces. His first meeting was with the King of Dodowa , Okoforobuur Agyemang, the two cultural leaders exchanged pleasantries and  Wayabire and his team visited a mysterious Dodowa forest of no return.  In this forest, it's believed that whoever visits the forest without official consent from the Kingdom never returns.

 

The Bishop also met Deputy Minister of Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Hon Paul Essien who he invited to attend his 5th Coronation Anniversary, which is to take place on the July 6, year, a day before the Arise Africa Conference of which the Bishop is the Patron.

 

Wayabire also visited divisional chiefs, the divisional chief of Prestea Himan, Nana Nteboa Pra IV, Ada paramount chief, Djetse Nene Abraham Akuanku III, among others.

 

Among the things discussed was how traditional institutions relate with the central governments, how the house of chiefs operates within the kingdom and with the government and the exchange visits between the Ghana and Uganda cultural leaders.

 

The Arise Africa Conference is a meeting of traditional kings, chiefs, queens, political and religious leaders organised annually to present the role of cultural leaders in transforming society.

 

In his speech to the fellow traditional leaders, Bishop Wayabire emphasized on the need to boost unity in society and encouraged leaders to take full responsibility in their respective areas of control if Africa is to be united.

 

The king who also doubles as a spiritual leader of Revival and Salvation Apostolic Ministries believes it is the duty of traditional leaders to ensure unity, transformation and prosperity among their people. "For a long time, people have associated traditional institutions with things like witchcraft, evil spirits and many other evil identities which is not true because these institutions have their origin in God"

 

"I was brought up in a Christian family and was trained in the fear of The Lord right from my tender age and my desire has always been to be on the Pulpit declaring God's Word and when we use the example of Israel where Kings like David, Solomon and others did amazing things aligned with God's intentions, we learn that traditional institutions are from God to carry out His mission of uniting, guiding, leading and developing his people."

 

 
"Therefore, tradition being dynamic, it is important to have communities transformed while having cultural leaders at the forefront because they have a direct connection with the people when it comes to Norms and traditions needed to build societies," the Bishop said.

 

"It's the first time that I have seen my colleague preaching the gospel, please keep it up because many will soon learn from your revolution," remarked the Dodowa King, Okoforabuur while welcoming his counterpart with his delegation into his palace.

 

"King Wayabire is a moving Bible, he quotes the Bible, the world needs preaching kings like him," remarked Okoforabuur.

 

The Prime Minister of Bugwere Royal Kingdom, Eric Kasolo said other leaders from Botswana, Nigeria, Swaziland in addition to our own in Uganda are expected to attend the event.

 

"Over 50,000 guests are expected to be in attendance including the heads Anglican, Catholic, Muslim religions in Uganda all of which have already confirmed their attendance. We are yet to engage the Government also because this is a big event that benefits all of us", Kasolo said.

 

"This is a platform where many conflicts involving Government and traditional institutions can be corrected to achieve the unity that we need to transform our societies," he added.

 

According to Samuel Niiwo, the Principal Private Secretary to His Royal Highness, 10 Kingdoms in Ghana have confirmed their attendance and the kingdom is engaging local cultural institutions in Uganda.  

 

This Summit is expected to clear the differences that are apparent between governments and traditional institutions and we expect over 50 cultural leaders across the continent to attend this event.