The Ashanti Regional Minister, Simon Osei Mensah, stormed the House of Bethel Ministry’s Watch Night Service on Saturday morning, and ordered its Head Pastor’s arrest, claiming that the church was making ‘too much noise’.
Police at KNUST have since granted bail to the Church’s Head Pastor, Reverend Kwame Takyi, after he had spent some hours behind bars.
The police picked up Rev. Takyi, and detained him at the KNUST police station, after seizing the church’s sound equipment.
House of Bethel Ministry Head Pastor, Reverend Kwame Takyi
Mr. Osei Mensah stormed the church building with armed Police officers at Anwomaso-High Tension, a suburb in Kumasi, and ordered them to halt an ongoing Watch Night Service because of the noise making.
The church members said the Minister’s “Rambo Style” was unfortunate, as they rather expected him to engage the leadership of the church on the issue.
The Ashanti Regional Minister, who lives close to the church, had stormed the premises around 12:30 am, to warn the congregation for the first time, and later came in with the police officers at about 2:00am to order the arrest of the head pastor.
The Secretary of the House of Bethel Ministry, Stephen Osei, narrating the incident to Citi News “The regional Minister came to our church and he said we were making noise as it was time for him to sleep. He entered there and told us to stop the noise. Our pastors wanted to speak to him but he wasn’t ready to speak to our pastors.”
Mr. Osei also said the Regional Minster used “all sort of abusive words” against them.
The church’s Secretary also suggested that police carried out the arrest unwillingly.
“At a point, the police felt the noise that was going on wasn’t something that could disrupt the place because it is a programme we do every last Friday of the Month. He [the Regional Minister] has always been here with us and this time, we felt surprised this thing was going on.”
Attempts by Citi News to reach the Regional Minister have so far been unsuccessful.
Although there are by-laws on noise making, they are mostly not enforced.
This is what happened when you give power to hidden arrogant and uncivilized people.
He did the right thing.this people will listen if warn them three times.the something happen at our area when you say they say are witch or ocultic
Kudos to the honourable minister.This nonsense ought to be stop!!
Oh so called believers how did Christ directed us to pray?
Well done, this churches are mocking God all in the name of worship.
Hon. Simon Osei Mensah didn’t play his cards well as expected of him. He could have even invited the church elders to his residence and advise them.
How can you attack the house of God? Your capacity as who, before your creator? Can you fight God and survive?
Where is the NPP leadership (some of them) leading the party?
How can you go to these same people when is time for election? It seems the old men and women appointed to lead the party could only project for only a term of governance.
The youth of our noble party should wake up and take absolute control else the ‘old men’ caucus with short sights and content with only a term of office do qualify for the back bench and give way for the youth who can deal with any situation with all diligence.
The Ashanti Regional minister should render an unqualified apology to Christian flaternity and ask God for forgiveness let’s not God’s favor depart from our noble party.
His Excellency, the president Nana Akufo-Addo must watch out for his appointees else most of them shall make the vision of the party not achievable.
Good Human relations is the key to any successful political party and our leaders must eschew their pride for once for the sake of the party and Ghanaians as a whole.
Its about time all these soso all night at residential places stop. Night time is for sleeping full stop
I hope he is aware of what happens at +2, x5,Golden gate and Barnaas. Hmmmmmm