Presby Church locked out Members demand accountability

Members of the Ejisu District Branch of the Presbyterian Church in the Ashanti Region who cheerfully thronged the church premises for Sunday morning worship service became disappointed when they realised all the doors to the church auditorium was under lock and key. A group within the church calling themselves Concerned Members of Ejisu Presby claimed responsibility for the surprise action. Today gathered that this was in protest against the lack of transparency and accountability in the church which according to the spokesperson of the group, Ebenezer Ohene, was looked on with a blind eye by the leaders in the region. This unfortunate occurrence caused the few members who managed to come for service numbering about 30 out of the over 500 regular members to clutter into an uncompleted mission house for service. According to the group, they petitioned the Ashanti Regional Presbytery chairperson on some allegations of the untoward attitude of their District Minister, Reverend Daniel Akwasi Asenso, in relation to accountability in their branch of the church. “For the past two-and half-years he has not rendered any account on tithes, PTO, silver collection and (others) hence our petition to the Presbytery chairman,” the spokesperson noted. Mr. Ohene added that they had met with the Ashanti Regional Presbytery chairman, Rev. Opuni Frimpong, about eight different occasions where they were assured that their district minister would be made to render the appropriate accounts to the church. They were however disappointed when they realised there was no sign that their grievances would be resolved anytime soon judging from the district leaders attitude. “Just last month delegates from our church went to another meeting with our Presbytery chairman and were told again that the chairman had instructed Rev. Asenso to render the accounts to the church but he still refused, making our chairman even wonder why he has chosen to disrespect orders from the council,” he expatiated. Today further gathered that the aggrieved members who locked up the church auditorium kept vigil at the church premises to ensure that the padlocks they had used were not broken. Reports indicate that Rev. Asenso called in the police from the Ejisu District Headquarters to forestall law and order. After listening to both sides however, the law enforcers were reported to have arranged a meeting between the two parties on Monday, October 24, 2011, where the issue was expected to be resolved. The paper can confirm that the concerned members of the church are now seeking only two things: Rev. Asenso to render accounts, and; also for the Ashanti Regional Presbytery to transfer their District Minister since he has been there for three years. Attempts to ascertain the veracity of the allegations by the concerned group proved futile as the Rev. Asenso could not be reached while the Chairman of the Ashanti presbytery Rev. Opuni Frimpong also refused any comment on the subject when this reporter called him on phone.