Grand Durbar Celebrates Heritage in Cape Coast
The Methodist Church in Ghana marked its 190th anniversary with a vibrant durbar in Cape Coast on August 24, 2025, attended by members from all 24 dioceses, bishops, and traditional leaders like Osabarima Kwesi Atta II. The event blended religion and culture, with Presiding Bishop Most Rev. Professor Johnson Kwabena Asamoah-Gyadu leading in traditional attire.
Activities included a poster art competition, a memorial lecture, health outreaches, and International Widows Day commemoration. Sixty-three individuals received awards for their contributions. Cultural displays, hymns, and a pictorial history honored the church’s founders, highlighting its growth since 1835.
Asamoah-Gyadu praised unschooled lay members, traders, and musicians like I.D. Riverson and Kwesi Baiden for spreading Methodism. He noted the church’s impact through schools and social initiatives like the Methodist Rafiki Satellite Village, serving 2 million members across Ghana.
Cape Coast MCE George Justice Arthur and Osabarima Kwesi Atta II lauded the church’s contributions, urging unity and respect. The bishop called for renewed focus on preaching to sustain Methodism’s legacy, emphasizing its role in education and healthcare nationwide.
The durbar, drawing 5,000 attendees, underscored the church’s cultural and spiritual significance. With 3,500 societies, Methodism’s influence remains strong, supported by its 2024 report of 700,000 active members contributing to community development.