Accra, Ghana - UPF-Ghana held its fourth annual end-of-year assembly in Accra, Ghana on Dec. 17, 2013. The essence is to bring all Ambassadors for Peace together (old and new), in a peaceful assembly and reunion.
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This year’s gathering took a different shape. Three additional events were introduced:
- Official introduction of executive officers (Presiding and National Peace Councils) and presentation of its members
- Anniversary of the memorial service of UPF Founder Rev. Sun Myung Moon
- Presentation of an Excellence Award
The events were part of an evening program that included a buffet dinner. Forty-five persons attended, including 22 Ambassadors for Peace, guests and visitors from outside Ghana.
The first session witnessed the introduction of the members of the executive councils by the Secretary General, Dr. Helen Osei after a PowerPoint presentation. After the introduction of the National Peace Council, the National Chairman, Mr. Alex Ebo Hammond, called the executive members to action and challenged them to rise to the task, reiterating that the mission to bring peace throughout the nation is a huge one and requires dedication and sacrifice.
After a brief remark by the MC, a video was played of the Founder’s memorial service last year in Korea. Most of the guests were startled at the size of the crowd seen in the video. One person commented that if one man could attract such a crowd to an event, then such a person is not an ordinary man. They acknowledged indeed that Father Moon has left a legacy for everyone to carry on.
An Ambassador for Peace who was one of the 150 ministers who welcomed Father Moon to Ghana in 1995 was invited to share his reflections. He said simply: “If people of this world had embraced the vision which God revealed to Father Moon for world peace, a better world would have come into being.” He therefore charged everybody to embrace Father Moon’s idea of interreligious harmony and collaboration.
Another event was an excellence award presented by UPF to a poetry organization - Splendors of Dawn Poetry Foundation. This is in line with UPF’s initiative which calls for recognition and encouragement of those making a change.
This organization, which has been in collaboration with UPF for almost two years, is committed to human betterment through poetry, peace education, reading, story-telling, character education and youth leadership skills. Their objective is to use poetry and the arts as vehicles for a positive social change.
The award ceremony was followed by the closing remarks by Ghana’s representative on the Global Peace Council, Rev. Prof. Edwin N. Korley, who praised the establishment of the executive councils. He called on all executive members to consider this a golden opportunity given to them to serve the nation. He also charged everyone present to see UPF as a vibrant organization that many will seek to belong to in the near future.
After his exhortation, the event was declared closed, and in a friendly and peaceful atmosphere, everyone enjoyed the delicious buffet.