The Methodist Church, Ghana has surprised Vice President Alhaji Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia with a special birthday celebration at her Wesley Cathedral in Cape Coast during church service on Sunday, 7th October 2018.
The Vice President who turned 55 years today was attending the Induction Service of the newly elected Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church, The Most Rev. Dr. Paul Kwabena Boafo.
In a highly surprising move, the entire congregation and clergy of the church rose up with a rousing welcome to the Vice President as he entered the church amidst singing, cheering, and praises with a beautiful rendition of the popular “happy birthday to you” song.
Led by the outgoing and incoming Presiding Bishops, the Church presented a birthday hamper to Dr. Bawumia and prayed for the blessings, favour, and wisdom of the Almighty God onto the life of the Vice President.
Dr. Bawumia’s humility and trans-religious tolerance have endeared him to the Christian and Muslim communities. As a devoted Muslim, Dr. Bawumia has a perfect sense of the need for religious tolerance and has demonstrated true leadership and commitment at same.
Some of the Church members could not hide their love and admiration for the Vice President as they showered praises and blessings upon his life for his humility, respect, and hardwork.
In his address Vice President Bawumia extended the felicitations of the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and also expressed his appreciation to the church for their continuous prayers and support towards church building.
“From the days of John Wesley and the earlier leaders the Methodist Church has been part of the building process of Ghana and the country is grateful for that”, Dr. Bawumia indicated.
He seized the occasion to also share his past relationship with the Methodist Church in his early days as a teenager in Tamale. “Back in my teens at Tamale I was the only Muslim member of the Boys Brigade. My mother is a product of Wesley Girls Senior High School (a Methodist school), and likewise my wife, Samira Bawumia, a product of Mfantsiman School (also a Methodist school)”, he revealed.
The Vice President in a highly elated mood urged the Church to continue to pray for President Akufo-Addo and his government, believing that the battle of governance is of the Lord’s.
In his sermon, The Most Rev. Awotwi Pratt admonished the congregation to show humility and tolerance to each other. He recounted his days as a mission representative in the Gambia and how peaceful he co-existed with his Muslim brothers.
“Many times as a priest of God I attended service at the mosque and anytime I did the Imam would ask me to put my sandals in my armpit. I attended and presided over weddings between a Muslim and a Christian. This is how God wants us to live with one another - respect and recognition of each other’s faith and believe”, Most Rev. Awotwi Pratt admonished.
Present at the church service today were Hon. Kwamena Duncan, Central Regional Minister, the NPP Central regional chairman and his executives, Nana Kobina Nketsia, the Paramount Chief of the Essikado traditional area. Others were leaders of the Methodist Church, namely the Most Rev. Titus K. Awotwi Pratt, Immediate past Presiding Bishop, His Eminence Dr. Samuel Chukwuemeka Kano Uche, Prelate of the Methodist Church, Nigeria, The Most Rev. Prof. Emmanuel K Asante, Bro. Benard Clement K Botwe, Lay President, and a host of other pastors, Bishops and clergy of the church.
Dr. Bawumia was given a birthday hamper on behalf of the the entire congregation