Every Ghanaian Has A Right To Know

Posted on April 25, 2016     Leave a Comment

Mr. Ahiaku is a news producer with a local radio station. He needs some information from a case in court to proceed with a story he is working on. He applies to the court for a copy of the documents containing that information but the clerk denies him, claiming that he (Ahiaku) is not allowed to have a copy the document he has requested. Ahiaku knows he is allowed access to the document based on the fact that he is Ghanaian, but more importantly because it is a public case and the issues are in the interest of the public. What does he do?

Every Ghanaian has the right to information that they seek subject to certain qualifications and laws as are necessary in a democratic society. The right to information, also known as freedom of information, is enshrined in the 1992 Constitution at Article 21(1)(f), which states

“all persons shall have the right to information subject to such qualifications and laws as are necessary in a democratic society.”

This provision in the 1992 Constitution has remained untested for many years until recently when pressure groups such as Occupy Ghana and Citizen Ghana, have started invoking such rights to obtain information from government institutions.

Citizen Ghana took the exercise of this constitutional right a step further by filing an action in the Human Rights Court in Accra to request for copies of the contract relating to the branding of 116 Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) buses, popularly referred to as the “Smartty’s Saga”. On 13 April 2016, the court ordered the government to make available, copies of the said contract to Citizen Ghana. The judge in delivering the judgment cited Article 41(f) which states that:

“it is the duty of every citizen to protect and preserve public property and expose and combat misuse and waste of public funds and property.”

He then ordered the government to make available to Citizen Ghana copies of all documents relating to the bus-branding contract.

This judgment is seen as a victory for right to information activists, in that, there is no need for Parliament to pass the Right to Information Bill, which has sat on their desks for many years, for Ghanaians to be able to exercise their constitutional right to information. In most democratic countries, the right to information is important to the realisation of fundamental, economic and political rights. It is the immediate foundation upon which to build good governance, transparency, accountability, participation, and to check arbitrariness and corruption in public life.

It is based on the principle that in a democracy, the sovereignty of a nation lies in the hands of the people in whose name and on whose behalf government exercises power. What then happens to our esteemed constitution if this tenet of democracy is disregarded?

To quote the Walter Cronkite (the most trusted man in America):

“Not only do we have a right to know, we have a duty to know what our government is doing in our name. If there is a criticism to be made to day, it is that the press is not doing enough to put the pressure on the government to provide information.”

I hope Mr. Ahiaku will insist on his constitutional right, backed by the Citizen Ghana case, and demand the document, which he requires for the story in the interest of the public. Next time someone tells you that you do not have a right to know what you are asking for, remind them that it is your constitutional right and refer them to the Citizen Ghana case.

Written by Kow Essuman, Esq.

The writer is a barrister; qualified to practise law in England and Wales, New York and Ghana. He is a Senior Associate in the Litigation and Dispute Resolution practice group at Bentsi Enchill, Letsa & Ankomah and a Global Shaper (Accra Hub) of the World Economic Forum.

*The above article was first published on Raw Africa.

Choosing God’s Way Is Choosing Life

Posted on April 22, 2016     Leave a Comment

In everything we do, we must choose God’s way over our own way. In fact, we must be willing to choose God’s way and no other way including our own way. Making that choice is in obedience to God’s word, or otherwise, our choice is tantamount to disobedience and is sinful. Choosing God’s way shows that we acknowledge Him as the Lord of our life.

But God does not impose His way on us, He has given us a choice. There are many texts in support of the choices we have to make when it comes to choosing God’s way but I want to focus on Deuteronomy 30:11-20.

In Deuteronomy 30:15, we are faced with two choices, which is really what everything is about: life and good, death and evil. Deuteronomy 30:15 (NKJV) states:

“See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil … ”

Which one are you going to choose? Of course most people will choose life and good, over death and evil. I hope you will also choose life be good. Other translations describe “good” as prosperity. But choosing life and good is not a matter of merely saying “I choose life and good over death and evil.” It demands that you walk in God’s ways and keep His commandments, statutes and judgments. It is only through walking in God’s ways that we can expect God to bless us. Deuteronomy 30:16 (NKJV) states:

“In that I command you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments, His statutes, and His judgments, that you may live and multiply; and the LORD your God will bless you in the land which you go to possess.”

So how do we know God’s commandments, statutes and judgments, to enable us obey them and walk in His ways? The commandments, statutes and judgments of God are in His Word. And He tells us that His Word is not far from us. His Word is not in the Heavens or beyond the seas to give us an excuse that we do not have access to His Word. Instead, we are told that His Word is right here with us; in our mouths and our hearts. Deuteronomy 30:11-14 (NKJV) states:

“For this commandment which I command you today is not too mysterious for you, nor is it far off. It is not in heaven, that you should say, ‘Who will ascend into heaven for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’ Nor is it beyond the sea, that you should say, ‘Who will go over the sea for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’ But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may do it.”

This is amazing, we have a choice between life and good, and death and evil. We are free to choose but if we do not choose life and good, we do not have an excuse. Another thing that is instructive to note is that we only get “good” when we choose life. The blessing of “good” follows our choice of life.When we choose God, we find life and obtain favour from God. Proverbs 8:35 (NKJV) states:

“For whoever finds me finds life, And obtains favor from the LORD … ”

If we do not choose life, the consequences are dire. Those who do not choose life shall surely perish and their days may not be prolonged. Deuteronomy 30:17-18 (NKJV) states:

“But if your heart turns away so that you do not hear, and are drawn away, and worship other gods and serve them, I announce to you today that you shall surely perish; you shall not prolong your days in the land which you cross over the Jordan to go in and possess.”

‭I pray your heart never turns away from the word of God and that you choose life and good. Here is what choosing life gives you:

“Therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; that you may love the LORD your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days; and that you may dwell in the land which the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them.” – Deuteronomy‬ ‭30:19-20‬ ‭(NKJV)‬‬

Isn’t that great? The blessing of choosing life goes beyond us. It reaches our descendants. Indeed, God is our life and because He is our life, we will live the length of our days to enjoy that which He has given to us. Praise be to God!

Written by Kow Essuman, Esq.

The author is a barrister; qualified to practise law in England and Wales, New York and Ghana; a Global Shaper (Accra Hub) of the World Economic Forum and a firm believer in the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Watch And Be Ready

Posted on April 5, 2016     Leave a Comment

No one knows when the Son of Man will return. The angels of heaven do not know. Only God knows. When the Son of Man comes the second time, the world will be destroyed with fire. This will not be the first time that the world would have been destroyed. Anytime God destroys the world, He does not give notice of when He will do it. It’s like a surprise. The Bible likens the second coming of the Son of Man to a “thief” who breaks into a house. The master of the house has no idea that his house would be broken into because if he did, he would have watched and prevented the thief from breaking into his house.

In Matthew 24: 42, 44, we are told to “watch” and we are told to “be ready”. Matthew 24: 42 (NKJV) states “Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming” and Matthew 24:44 (NKJV) states: “Therefore, you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” What does it mean to watch and be ready for the coming of the Son of Man.

In the days of Noah, when God destroyed the earth with water, the Bible tells us that Noah was a just and perfect man, and walked closely with God. Genesis 6:9 (NLT) states that “Noah was a righteous man, the only blameless person living on earth at the time, and he walked in close fellowship with God.” So when God was sorry that He had created the world, He spoke to Noah and gave him instructions on what to do in order that he may save the human race and all the other living things. Noah listened to God’s instructions and built the ark according to the specifications that God had given him.

The Bible tells us that while Noah built the ark, the other people were eating and drinking and getting married. Business as usual. Clearly, when we are eating and drinking all the time, we will not be in a watchful and ready state to be saved when the world is destroyed. Luke 17:26-30 (NKJV) states, “And as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man: They ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. Likewise as it was also in the days of Lot: They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built; but on the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. Even so will it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed.” Is that not the same thing we see these days? Party here, party there? Wedding here, wedding there? Deals here and there?

Noah was not doing business as usual. He was not partying like the other men of his time. He remained righteous and walked in close fellowship with God. He opened his ear and heart and listened to God when God spoke to him. It may not have made any sense to build such a huge ark and then go and live inside and wait. But because of his close fellowship with God, it made it easy for him to do exactly what God had told him to do and he was saved from destruction. Note that it was Noah, his sons, his wife and his sons’ wives that were saved. His entire family unit because the head of the family unit found grace in the eyes of God by walking in close fellowship with God.

Watching also means being ready. In the parable of the ten virgins who went out to meet the bridegroom, we are told that the five wise virgins took oil in their vessels with their lamps. It means they were ready or prepared for every situation. So when the bridegroom finally arrived, they did not have to go looking for oil like the five foolish virgins. See Matthew 25:1-13. The wise virgins went in with the bridegroom because they were ready. Matthew 25:10 (NKJV) states, “… the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut.” When the other virgins returned and asked to be let into the wedding, the Lord said He did not know them. Jesus then said “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.” See Matthew 25:13 (NKJV).

Let us be like the five wise virgins in the parable in Matthew 25:1-13. Let us watch and be ready like Noah when the Son of Man comes the second time so that we are saved. God bless you!

My Lent Testimony

Posted on April 2, 2016     16 Comments

Every year, I try to participate in the activities of the lent period but I am usually unable to do so completely and give up shortly after I start. But this year, I was determined to take lent very seriously and participate in the activities until the very end. So even though I had been fasting for at least two weeks prior to lent, seeking God for answers about some personal stuff, I decided to do a full fast for the entire 40 days lent period. Yes, I fasted everyday until 6pm; sometimes with water, and other times without water. It was tough at times, the temptations flew in from all angles to satisfy the flesh. I fell a few times but I got up again and moved on because I was determined and was living in grace, which was sufficient. I was attacked spiritually and survived. In the end, God’s glory shone and I have no doubt in my heart that I need to share my testimony of lent this year with you.
Now for those who do not know what lent is about, permit me to explain. Lent is a 40-day period in the Christian calendar, just before Easter, where Christians are expected to fast and pray and be charitable before Easter. It begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Holy Saturday, or Maundy Thursday depending on whether or not you are Catholic. During the lent period Christians wait on God; they seek God and draw closer to God. There are many Biblical references for lent but the most pertinent of them all is that which Jesus fasted for 40 days and 40 nights before beginning His ministry on earth. In Matthew 4, we are told that Jesus was led into the wilderness where He fasted for 40 days and 40 nights; after which He was tempted by the tempter (Satan) and when He overcame Satan’s temptation, angels came and ministered to Him and He begun His ministry thereafter. So during the 40 days lent period, we fast and wait on God to give us the strength and grace to overcome temptation.
This year, lent begun on 10 February 2016. I was in Kumasi at that time and was determined to go to the Methodist Church (Wesley Cathedral) for the Ash Wednesday service. And I did. I committed myself – spirit, soul and body – to the Lord and asked for strength during the lent period. I put up a post on my Facebook page saying “Today is #AshWednesday and the beginning of #Lent. Let’s make it a point to draw closer to our Heavenly Father during this period.”
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I was desirous of spiritual gifts and in particular, to speak in the language of the Spirit – tongues. I did not know what gifts God had blessed me with to do His work. On Friday, 12 February 2016, I noticed that a colleague at work who was also a very good friend was limping and was in terrible pain. I asked him what was wrong with his right leg and he explained that he had a skiing accident whilst on holiday and that he had been to the hospital and the x-rays showed that he had torn some ligaments and that he needed surgery. I told him he did not need surgery and that I would visit him the next day (Saturday) and pray with him.
On the Saturday (13 February 2016), after a few rounds during the day, I visited my friend at night, around 10pm. I had company, and when we arrived at my friend’s house, we noticed that he could barely walk and needed to use crutches. We put on some music and started to worship God. We sang praises to God and prayed. We felt the presence of the Holy Spirit and He led us in prayer. We asked God for healing for my friend. We felt the Spirit move, causing my friend to scream. We put our hands around his knee that was hurting and amidst his screams, declared healing by the stripes of Jesus Christ. The screams stopped and he began to walk freely, as if he had never had such severe pain in his knee. We praised God and thanked Him for His mercies and grace.
In the process of praising our Heavenly Father, the Spirit took over my body and I began to prophesy into the life of my friend. I had no control over what was coming out of my mouth. The words I spoke came from within me, from inside my stomach. I could hear the Spirit speak. You would normally hear people tell such stories but I experienced it myself and it was amazing. Some of the prophecies that came to my friend have come to pass and I thank God. We then anointed his house and left.
On Monday, 15 February 2016, my daily devotion was titled “The Great Creator-Healer” and it talked about a man who had been involved in a similar skiing accident and had been healed. I took a photo of the page and sent it to my friend. On Tuesday, 16 February 2016, he went to the hospital and the doctor confirmed that he did not need any surgery. His joy knew no bounds. So did mine. Glory be to God!
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Now I was more excited about what God wanted me to do for Him. I started reading His Word more, listening to podcasts (Dag Heward-Mills, TD Jakes, Kenneth Hagin, Benny Hinn, Reinhard Bonke, and many others). I was thirsty for the Word of God. I read books and the Bible frequently, and discussed revelations with friends and loved ones. And I still desired to speak in the language of the Spirit.
On Friday, 19 February 2016, I attended an all-night organised by a few friends from fellowship. One of the men of God present at the all-night talked about how it is important to pray in the language of the Spirit when you receive the Holy Ghost’s baptism. One scripture that he referred to, that touched my heart was, 1 Corinthians 14:14-15, which states that “For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful. What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding.”
I prayed that I may receive the gift of speaking in the language of the Spirit so when the call was made for those who desired that gift, I quickly stepped forward (I believe I was one of the first people who did). The main organiser of the all-night, a young medical doctor who is also a pastor, and who happens to be a friend, stepped forward to pray for me. He placed his hand on my stomach and encouraged me to keep repeating “Thank you, Jesus.” After saying “Thank You Jesus” for about two minutes, I felt something moving up from within my stomach to my lips. Anytime I would try to utter what came to my lips, I would end up mumbling. But I did not give up. Eventually, a word came out. It sounded middle-eastern/Arabic. I continued to say the word as I feared that if I stopped, I would forget it. I went back to my standing position and continued to utter the strange word that had become part of my vocabulary. I did not know what it meant. I just knew my spirit was excited about it.
Another man of God came and ministered and during his ministration, he called me to the centre (we were standing in a circle) and called my doctor/pastor friend and told him that God had asked him to pray for me to receive the gifts that he (the man of God) had. As we prayed, the Holy Spirit came over me and I fell to the ground. Hitherto, I did not believe in people falling to the ground when touched by men of God and thought they just could not control themselves. But I fell. And when I regained control of myself, all I could do was cry. I cried like a baby and got up and returned to my standing position, again.
As I stood there, I continued to weep. I had never wept so much in my life. I was not sad but extremely happy. I could hear the Holy Spirit speaking to me confirming things He had told a few weeks ago. He reminded me of Matthew 6:33, which states, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” During a weekend retreat to pray about my future partner, the Holy Spirit had told me to draw closer to God and love Him with all my heart. I wanted answers from God about what to do about the person I would marry and all He told me was “draw closer to me.” “Like really, God?” I asked. But I trusted and obeyed. Today, Matthew 6:33 is one of the pillar verses in my life.
So as I stood there and cried, the Holy Spirit reminded me of that night when He told me to draw close to God and replayed exactly what He had told me and what was happening to me at the all-night. That made me weep even more and uncontrollably. Now my friend, who had invited me, not knowing what to think, turned around and hugged me as I continued to weep. I then heard the Holy Spirit speak to me in the most clearest of voices saying that He has given me my future partner because of what I am going to do for God. Oh yes, the crying continued even more. Other prophecies came forth that night but those are for another story. I continued to pray and received a second word in the language of the Spirit. I now uttered the two words so that I did not forget them.
On Sunday, 21 February 2016, I was invited to church other than mine and after the service, I met the man of God. He invited me to his house for a chat the next day (Monday). On Monday, 22 February 2016, I visited the man of God after work and had a chat with him. He told me a number of things including a second attack on my health, which attack will leave me very weak. I did not think the attack would be any time soon. I thanked him and left his house. We stayed in touch and communicated in the following days. I enjoyed his church and the word he preached and so I attended a few more times.
I continued to seek God, listening to sermons and reading the Word even more. I was thirsty to know God more. There seemed to be so much to know. I never passed the chance to minister unto someone and explain the Word and how exciting the living Word of God was. I prayed for friends who were sick and afflicted. There was one time, the devil tried to bring me shame with a running stomach and prevent me from traveling to Sunyani to work. I received directions from the Holy Spirit to bless a bottle of water and drink the entire bottle, believing it to be the blood of Jesus that healeth. I did and the running stomach ceased immediately to enable me go about my duties. The devil tried to plant doubt in my heart telling me to carry a tissue with me in case of an emergency or buy imodium. But I resisted those thoughts and ideas and trusted the blood of Jesus (the bottle of water) and it worked. I was saved from car accidents among others.
I attended another all-night and desiring more gifts, received two more words in the language of the Spirit, making the words in the language of the Spirit that I speak, four. On another occasion, I parked my car to attend a meeting. When I got out of the car, a healthy-looking man asked me for money to buy food. I said I did not have money to give to him. I crossed the street and immediately felt convicted by the Holy Spirit. I took out GHS20 from my wallet, blessed it and crossed the street to give to him. He was not expecting me. Immediately, he noticed what I had put in his hand, he thanked me and blessed me. I felt fulfilled and crossed the street to attend my meeting.
As lent drew closer to the end, the devil tried to attack me again. On Monday, 14 March 2016, I started coughing while I was at work. It was nothing serious; very negligible. When I got home in the evening, I coughed slightly. I had a Bible study session with my beloved over the telephone and then had our regular midnight prayers. She was concerned about the cough so we said prayers for my health. After praying for about two hours, we said goodnight to each other.
I shut my eyes to sleep. It was if I was asleep but I was not asleep; as if I was in some sort of trance. I felt so feverish, and shook terribly as I watched what was happening. My head was pounding and my body was shaking. Then I saw men of God, some I identified, others I did not, and they were all praying seriously as though to stop something from happening. I saw my medical doctor/pastor friend (the one who organises the all-night) leading the men of God in prayers, praying for me. After a while, I felt it was over and woke up. I was sweating profusely and had to use the bathroom “to pay some water bills.” I returned to bed to sleep but I could not sleep. My temperature was high, my head was pounding, I was sweating, I was using the bathroom a lot. In summary, I struggled the entire night. I woke up extremely weak and drained.
Around 3am, I sent my doctor a message to tell her what was happening to me. God has used her in the past to prevent the work of the devil against my life and yes, I text her at anytime and she always responds. I took my pressure and sent her the reading. She asked me to come by the clinic in the morning. I called in sick at work and was taken to the hospital. After a few tests, I was put on a drip and admitted until I regained a little strength. I was given some days off to rest. I then returned home, feeling feverish, without any appetite, etc.
I sent a message to my friend who had invited me to church on Sunday, 21 February 2016, telling her I had been admitted at the hospital but discharged the same day. She then told me that the man of God had asked about me that morning and she had told him that I was fine. She asked me to call the man of God and I did. When he picked up his phone, his first words were “you are weak, right?” And I said, “yes.” He then asked me to come to the church because they were there watching a movie.
So my beloved, who had come to make me soup, drove me to the church and we spoke to the man of God. He gave me a prophetic direction that God had given to him to give to me. I followed it and believed the healing power of God. I soon regained my strength. I noticed the power of God at work through the prophetic direction. On Sunday, 20 March 2016, I went to the man of God’s house in the evening and he, together with his other pastors and my beloved, prayed for my complete healing. He gave me the final prophetic direction, which I adhered to and believed, based on the Word of God.
When I fell sick, I took a break from fasting during lent to be able to take the medication I had been prescribed. I resumed fasting for Passion Week, with my full strength by the grace of God. On Maundy Thursday (24 March 2016), I went to church for the last supper and the washing of feet. I did not have my feet washed but partook in the last supper. On Good Friday, I was in church for the seven words on the cross, and was touched by the Word. In the evening, I went to the man of God’s church (the one I had gone to on 21 February 2016) to worship God.
When I woke up on Holy Saturday, I reflected on my lent period, and I realised that God had been so good to me. I knew I had been walking in grace and enjoying the mercies of God. I was renewed in my spirit and ready to do the work of God and all the other work He had blessed me with, in law and in politics. I felt very deeply in my spirit to share my testimony during lent so that others including unbelieving believers (credit to the man of God) will be inspired to submit to the Heavenly Father’s will for their lives. I live in joy and peace, and cannot wait for an opportunity to share the good news and God’s Word with people.
All I ask for is continuous grace, which is free, to continue to do His will, absolutely. My desire is to serve Him more and more. I also hope that the Holy Spirit will visit you and give you an encounter as He gave me and continues to give me. God bless you!
Written by Kow Essuman, Esq.
The author is a barrister; qualified to practise law in England and Wales, New York and Ghana. He is also a Global Shaper (Accra Hub) of the World Economic Forum and a firm believer in the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Overcome Sin Today

Posted on March 24, 2016     Leave a Comment

We were born dead. Funny right? But yes, we were born spiritually dead because of sin. And we were heading towards eternal death. For the wages of sin is death.

But God being the loving Father that He is, looked at us and had mercy. He sent His only begotten son to die for us and conquer death. Jesus came to earth to die for you and I. His death was not an ordinary death. It was as shameful as you could get in those days. He was humiliated and disgraced just because of you and I. He could have chosen not to do it but the Father’s will (of saving His children – you and I – from eternal death) had to prevail. So Jesus died.

And you know what His death brought to us. Oh my! Every right of ours restored. His death replaced sin with righteousness. That whosoever (means any Tom, Dick and Harry including Kofi, Kwame and Ama) believes in Jesus Christ shall be saved and shall not die eternally. By faith we receive this free gift of salvation. By grace we are saved from eternal death.

Being born again brings you back into the Kingdom of God. It means the Spirit of God returns to live in you. It means you get to exercise the rights as a child of God. And believe me those rights are amazing. The devil knows those rights that’s why he keeps deceiving God’s children and putting fear into them.

But I encourage you to take the first step today. Accept the Lord Jesus as your saviour. Say a prayer asking Him to be the Lord of your life; that He should forgive you of all sins you have committed until this time and that He should give you grace not to sin again; that His will should prevail in your life and not yours; that He should come and live in your heart and tell you what to do; that He should write your name in the book of life. Believe the prayer when you say it and you shall be saved.

Let’s overcome sin today. It’s Maundy Thursday. #PassionWeek

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