Story: Graphic Reporters
Church services were held on Monday night to usher in 2013.
But while many people were in church thanking God for seeing them through the past year, many others were at drinking spots, nightclubs and other entertainment centres to have fun.
At the stroke of midnight, members of the congregations in the churches embraced one another, exchanged greetings, praised God for His mercies and shouted for joy to welcome the New Year.
Some revelers lighted fire crackers, others set bonfires, while commercial and private drivers tooted their horns to welcome the dawn of the New Year.
The need for peace, unity and reconciliation ran through the messages that were preached at most church services.
In his New Year message, the Bishop of the Tema Diocese of the Methodist Church, Reverend H.Y. Ametefe, urged Ghanaians to begin the New Year with a resolution to serve God in all faithfulness, writes Albert Sam.
Quoting Isaiah 9:6-7, he said the body of Christ should be reminded of the role of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, as chronicled by the Prophet Isaiah, adding that Christians should always remember Jesus Christ in all their undertakings because He is the Counsellor, Redeemer and Saviour.
The General Overseer of Action Chapel International (ACI), Archbishop Nicholas Duncan-Williams, called on Ghanaians to submit to God and seek his face in the New Year, Sebastian Syme reports.
Delivering the sermon at the church's watch-night service to usher in the New Year, he said 2013 is a year that would require leaders of the country to take decisive steps that would favour the cause of the church in the nation.
The service, which was the 34th watch-night service, was attended by thousands of congregants and was interspersed with song ministrations led by the Voices of Triumph.
Archbishop Duncan-Williams said 2013, just like other years, would have its ups and downs but it would take "man to align with His purposes" to overcome the machinations of the evil one.
The members of the Brotherhood of the Cross and Star (BCS) at Odorkor marked the New Year with praises and songs to God, writes Mary Ankrah.
The congregation, who could not hide their joy and happiness for 2013, danced and sang songs on the streets to express their thankfulness to God.
In a watch-night service sermon, the Priestess, Senior Christ Servant Sister Priscilla Mensah, observed that the children of God who had overcome the previous year had cause to rejoice, since 2013 was predestined by God to reward His true children who continued to believe in His power.
Jennifer Ansah reports that thousands of worshippers thronged the headquarters of Royal House Chapel International at the Obetsebi-Lamptey Circle to sing praises to God as they welcomed the New Year.
The watch-night service witnessed a massive turnout of people in white apparel of various types and shapes.
The General Overseer of Royal House Chapel International, Rev Sam Korankye Ankrah, in a sermon, said 2013 would pose some spiritual challenges to the nation which could only be overcome with God’s favour.
From the Sakumono Calvary Temple of the International Central Gospel Church (ICGC), Della Russel Ocloo reports the Head Pastor, Rev Dr Anthony Cudjoe, challenged Christians not to lean on human connections in 2013 as a sure way to succeed in their endeavours.
Preaching the sermon at the church’s watch-night service, he tasked the congregation to seek reconciliation with their Creator.
At the Mount Olivet Methodist Church at Dansoman, hundreds of regular and occasional church-goers thronged the church to give thanks to God for His abundant mercies, grace and the gift of life in the past year, Charles Benoni Okine reports.
Amidst the singing of songs of praise, the congregation danced the popular ‘Azonto’ style in the Christian way to melodious songs expertly provided by the Olivet Voices, the in-house church band, to welcome the New year.
The dominant message to the congregation from every preacher on the night was for the people to seek salvation now in readiness for the second coming of Christ.
Emmanuel Bonney reports that members of the Kasoa branch of the Word Miracle Church International (WMCI) danced and sang praises to bid farewell to 2012 and welcome the New Year.
They thanked God for taking them through 2012 successfully and providing them the opportunity to live in another year.
The congregation, led by the Head Pastor, Rev Dr Joseph Lavoe, carried miniature brochures to declare 2013 “the Year of Greater Impact”.
Salomey Appiah reports that the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) car park, where the Global Revival Ministries held its watch-night service, was filled to capacity with worshippers, most of who were dressed in white to symbolise victory.
The General Overseer, Rev Robert Ampiah Kwofie, who led the congregation for intercessory prayers, declared 2013 the year of “Wealthy Places”.
From Tamale, Vincent Amenuveve reports that churches kept vigil to usher in the New Year, while most entertainment centres buzzed with activity.
Holiday makers, particularly expatriates, trooped to the premises of the Centre for National Culture (CNC) where they were treated to traditional music and other secular music.
The Kings Christian Ministry, for instance, held an open-air watch-night service at the Jubilee Park, during which its General Overseer, Bishop Dr Albert Luguterah, entreated Ghanaians to use the occasion to thank God for making it possible for the country to hold peaceful elections.
Tim Dzamboe reports from Ho that music and intercessory prayers dominated activities to usher in the New Year.
Many people went to all-night church services to usher in and crossover into the New Year.
The Living Spring Ministries held the largest open-air service at the Ho Stadium under the ministration of the Founder, Rev Emmanuel Gamena.
Members of the Victory Bible Church, led by Pastor David Eleblu, congregated at the RTC Park to welcome the New Year.
From Cape Coast, Shirley Asiedu-Addo reports that many churches were filled to capacity as hundreds thronged them to thank God for the end of 2012 and the beginning of 2013.
At the Siwdu Methodist Church, hundreds of Christians, mostly dressed in white, sang and danced to welcome the New Year on the stroke of midnight.
At the Peniel Congregation of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Bolgatanga, the Minister in charge, Rev Maxwell Annor Adjei Antwi, urged Christians to approach the New Year with hope and learn to proclaim God's blessings on one another, reports Benjamin Xornam Glover from Bolgatanga.
"God is the source of blessings. We are under divine obligation to invoke blessings and not curses on fellow humans. We should yearn for God's protection and eschew bitterness," he said.
From Koforidua, Nana Konadu Agyeman reports that hundreds of Christians gathered in various churches in the New Juaben municipality for the watch-night vigil, praising God for a peaceful 2012 and praying to Him for a successful New Year.
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