Big blow for Pastor Anaba

The Fountain Gate Chapel in Bolgatanga, led by Reverend Eastwood AnabaThe Fountain Gate Chapel in Bolgatanga, led by Reverend Eastwood Anaba, was dealt a big blow on Easter Friday, as six of its members on their way to the church’s Easter convention, lost their lives in yet another fatal accident at Kadia in the Northern region.

Most residents in Bolgatanga and the church’s congregation, who had come from all over the country, went into a state of shock and mourning, especially at the news of the death of the two daughters of the Founder and Senior Pastor of the Church, Rev. Anaba.

The country has been gripped with series of accidents since the beginning of the year, with the canker defying all solutions.

Rev. Anaba presided over the thanksgiving service organised by President Atta Mills when he assumed office at the Independence Square in Accra.

The church started its annual Easter convention on Wednesday April 8, under the theme, “Two Are Better Than One,” and as usual of the annual event, the Senior Pastor and his wife, Rosaline Anaba, and other pastors and speakers led the congregation through some activities lined up for the five-day event.

The climax of the five-day convention was the Ordination of a new Chairman of the International Presbytery of the Fountain Gate Chapel.

As the church charged up with songs of worship, praise and thanksgiving, as well as the congregation being guided through the pains and importance of the death of Christ by Reverend Anaba, the news of the death of his two daughters, Audrey, 15, and Amanda, 20, came in.

A source in the church said some members of the congregation who also heard the news, as well as Rev. Anaba who was then preaching, did not believe it.

After investigations, it was confirmed and that four other members of the church also died in the accident.

The four included a Pharmacist at the Sunyani Government Hospital and Pastor of the Church, Pastor Alex Kusi, 35; Mrs. Clara Kagyani, 38; Alberta Osei and Ben, 19 years.

A seventh person in the accident who sustained injuries, Patrick Kwarteng, 38 years, was sent to the Tamale Regional Hospital, where the dead were also taken to.

The seven were on their way to the convention grounds at Bolgatanga, from the Tamale Airport where Amanda and Audrey Anaba had been picked up after their disembarkation. 

The accident occurred at Kadia in the Northern region, the same community where over 38 persons lost their lives through an accident early this year.

Against public perception that the convention would end abruptly, it continued as planned with Reverend Anaba preaching some of the sermons.

“In God alone I trust, and if it is His will, may His alone be done. But if it is the same mistake the devil made some 2000 years ago that he has repeated, then he should be ashamed of himself, because the death of Christ, which he the devil masterminded, has brought salvation and redemption to the world and in the same vain the death of these faithful members of Fountain Gate will strengthen the faith of the congregation of the Church this Easter and even after.”

Upon realizing what the public expected from a father who had lost two of his own children, he stressed, “I am not being an insensitive father, but doing what the Lord, through me, has planned for the church.  That is why I am talking to you.

I feel the pain of the death of my daughters like any father would do, as well as the death of other members of our great church, who are also my children. The difference here is that, I am allowing the will of God to be done for the Church this Easter.”

For those who do not know Reverend Eastwood Anaba, he is the Pastor who preached at the first National Thanksgiving Day Service held in Accra, when the National Democratic Congress-led government assumed office.

He is the author of many religious and motivational books, including Running With Horse Men. He also appeared on a GTV programme, Counseling Hour, to talk about the Love Revolution.

Meanwhile, the Fountain Gate Chapel has rounded up its annual Easter convention and has ordained a new Chairman of the international presbytery of the church, Reverend Clement Anchebah, to take over the day-to-day running of the church.

The Founder and Senior Pastor, Eastwood Anaba, said the selection and ordination of the new Chairman was for the church’s sustainability.

From Ebo Bruce-Quansah, Bolgatanga