Tension mounts in Techiman between rastafarians and chiefs
Techiman, 8th February, 2012
Tension is brewing in Techiman in the Brong Ahafo region, over the right of a religious group to undertake evangelism in the township. A group of Rastafarians who make up the 7th Day Revival Yudaism of Yahweh want to freely preach in the township but the Techiman Traditional Council is not having any of it.
The Council is accusing the Rastafarians of verbal attacks on the chieftaincy institution while the Rastafarians believe idol worship is foolishness and they will not hide that as they preach. This act has annoyed the chiefs in the township who believe they (chiefs) are the subject of the attacks.
The Bamuhene of the Traditional area, Nana Ansu Gyeabour confirmed that the members of the Rastarian group insult the chiefs in their sermon.
“They insulted Nananom in a way that Nananom are not intelligent, they (Nananom) just have walls around trees and whatever which they have used it properly for something (sic). And this infuriated the people of Techiman and Nananom”. He said this in an interview with e.tv Ghana news.
He revealed that the traditional council has already taken steps to prevent the youth in the area from lynching the Rastafarians. Speaking in reference to an Evangelist of the religious group, Nana Ansu Gyeabour,also the Hansuahene of the area said the evangelist virtually insulted the whole township of Techiman with his actions.
“He insulted the intelligence of Nananom, he insulted the Techiman people, the indigenes, because that place is our heritage and our cultural bondage. And if he should insult us because we have (a) wall around that place and also to protect nature, (then) it means that if he continues to insult us, it may be disastrous.
The Rastafarians in a reaction explained that, their description of idol worshiping as foolishness is a provision in the book of Isaiah in the Holy Bible and not their own pronouncement. Quoting from scriptures, Evangelist Yaw Soul, member of the 7th Day Revival Yudaism of Yahweh said, the acts of the sinful nature which is spoken against in Galatians 5:19 are simply what they are speaking against.
Though the chiefs want to banish the Rastarians from the township, they claim they would only leave once a walking stick which serves as s symbol of their religion turns into snake in the next 55 days. The leadership of the Rastafarian group is currently being questioned by Police for the alleged insult of the chiefs in Techiman.
Yussif Kewura, e.tv Ghana News
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