UPF-Ghana organized a number of activities in December to close the year 2011.
General Assembly of Ambassadors for Peace
A General Assembly on December 20 brought together all Ambassadors for Peace within Accra (both old and new) to celebrate the year and present the report of the Interim Board which was set up in June 2011 to design a functional structure for the Ambassadors for Peace. More than 100 people attended. The West Africa 1 Sub Regional Leader, Rev. Paterne Lin Zinsou, was a Special Guest.
The General Assembly was scheduled to last for four hours (9:00 am – 1:00 pm) to allow time for other events. The program ran as follows:
- Presentation of UPF 2011 Highlights by UPF-Ghana Secretary General, Mrs. Helen Osei
- Report of the Interim Board after having completed their four-month assignment
- Board Chairman’s Address by Hon. Samuel N.A. Attoh
- Lecture on the Mission of Ambassadors for Peace by the Sub Regional Leader, Rev. Paterne Zinsou
Rev. Zinsou announcement of his being knighted by the Burkina Faso government brought great cheers.
Legacy of Peace festival
UPF-Ghana had planned to hold a Legacy of Peace festival for Ghana’s late heads of state at the beginning of the year but was unable to carry it out. The end of year assembly provided a good opportunity.
Eight former heads of state of Ghana who died either as a result of a coup d’etat or natural cause were identified. Two other persons, a former Prime Minister and a Lieutenant General, were also included. Although these notable people had passed away some years back, it was appropriate to conduct such a ceremony to promote spiritual healing as Ghana prepares for elections scheduled for December 2012.
Letters were sent out about the event. A program was drawn up, responsibilities assigned, and all necessary materials prepared. However, it was not easy to contact family members of the honorees. Press releases were not sent to the media because of the potential for the event to be misinterpreted as a political affair.
The event was scheduled to begin at 2:00 pm and end at 3:45, but in actuality it began at 3:00pm because the Ambassadors for Peace General Assembly ended with a buffet lunch and lasted longer than scheduled. The festival ended at 4:45 pm.
Two honorees were represented by their direct offspring. It was interesting to note that every single Ghanaian in the audience was willing to stand behind any of the photos of honorees, regardless of the history that surrounded that person. This was a good indication of a harmonization of the spiritual and physical worlds.
At the end of the ceremony, a family member of one of the honorees was invited to give remarks representing the entire group. In his speech, he expressed his delight at seeing an organization, not a government body, invest so much effort and interest in recognizing and honoring those who gave their lives for the nation. Referring to Rev. Zinsou's keynote address on "A Legacy of Love," he called on everyone to make efforts to live in peace with each other in order to leave behind a legacy of peace. He expressed hope that historians would record this event in Ghana’s Book of Records.
New Ambassadors for Peace appointed
Seven dignitaries were appointed Ambassadors for Peace: three from Nigeria, one from Burkina Faso, and three from Ghana. Those from outside Ghana were nominated and invited by their friends in Ghana. As the Special Guest, Rev. Zinsou presented the awards. The event closed with a very peaceful atmosphere.
In attendance were two Paramount Chiefs and five Queenmothers. They all exchanged photographs and addresses.
Courtesy call on the Paramount Chief of Tema
One of the Queenmothers who was at the Ambassadors for Peace Assembly arranged for Rev. Zinsou to pay a courtesy visit to the Paramount Chief of Tema, a city on the coast near Accra. The Paramount Chief had planned to be at the assembly but was unable to attend because of emergency.
A five-person delegation led by the UPF Secretary General arrived at the Palace at 1:00 pm. The team was warmly received by the Chief and his subordinates. The delegation was asked to explain UPF's mission, and an introduction was given by the Secretary General. This was followed by Rev. Zinsou explaining about UPF and its founders, Dr. and Mrs. Sun Myung Moon.
In his remarks, the Paramount Chief thanked the team and particularly the Sub Regional Leader for the visit. He gave a briefing about his 19 years on the stool and pointed out remarkable achievements that have been made. One such achievement is the harmony that has existed between the Christians and the Muslims in his area of jurisdiction.
In response, the Sub Regional Leader asked the Chief to organize a three-day durbur the following March, perhaps during Ghana’s independence anniversary. He urged the Chief to make sure to invite political leaders, youth, and the general public, and promised to return for such an event.
The Paramount Chief sincerely accepted the challenge and at the end invited the delegation to join him for a treat at a five-star hotel.