Podcast appearances and mentions of ashanti region

My Story   Talk 32   Life after Mattersey (2) Welcome to Talk 32 in our series where I'm reflecting on God's goodness to me throughout my life. Last time I was telling you how the Lord opened up a wider ministry for me after we left Mattersey and we concentrated on Countries in Europe. Today it will be Africa and Reunion Island.   African Countries I have already mentioned my first trip to Africa which was to Burkina Faso in the year 2000 while we were still at Mattersey. The next trip was to South Africa in 2004, just after leaving Mattersey, which I have also mentioned already. The African countries I visited after Mattersey were Ethiopia (five times between 05 and 09), and Ghana, Nigeria, and South Africa again, making a total of ten trips overall, half of which were to Ethiopia..   I visited Ghana in 2007 at the invitation of Paul Frimpong Manso, then the Superintendent of the Ashanti Region and later to become the General Superintendent of Assemblies of God in Ghana. Paul had been a student at Mattersey in the nineties, being one of the first to earn our newly validated BA degree and had later returned to take our MA too.   The purpose of my visit was primarily to speak at their pastors' conference and preach at their ordination service for new ministers. I was treated like royalty despite the fact that they were all smartly dressed in suits and ties – and some even with clerical collars – while I wore a short sleeved open-necked shirt, a special concession granted to me as someone unaccustomed to the temperature which, although it was only January, was far too high for my liking – a problem I was to face later in India in 2010.   It was a privilege to see the great work that Paul was doing and to know that he valued highly the teaching he had received at Mattersey. One of the things he had said to his fellow-students about my teaching on the Holy Spirit was that in Ghana they not only believed the things I taught but that they also put them into practice! Miracles seem to happen more often in Africa than they do in Europe, but often there is a lack of sound biblical teaching to go with them. The truth is, we need both. And a major part of my ministry has been to emphasise this.   My visit to Nigeria in 08 was unique in that the invitation did not come from any of the usual sources. Barrie Taylor is my daughter Sarah's father-in-law and has exercised an ongoing ministry for many years visiting Nigeria and by regular visits has developed a strong relationship with some of the churches there. As a result they respectfully refer to him as Uncle Barrie.       Barrie invited me to accompany him on one of these trips and I was delighted to do so. We flew to Abuja, the capital of Nigeria, and were met by pastors John Sarota and Vitalis Yahemba, the CEO of Truth and Life Ministry. We travelled by car to Kaduna a journey of some 200 kilometres to the north of Abuja and stayed at the Catholic Social Centre sleeping in relatively comfortable rooms.   But I confess I was disturbed at times by the high-pitched buzz an occasional mosquito flapping its wings at 250 times a second and by the fear that one might find its way under the mosquito net. Another disturbance early each morning was the sound of the muezzin calling from the minaret of a local mosque reminding faithful Muslims to pray. Kaduna lies very close to the northern area of Nigeria which is predominantly Muslim and where so many Christians have lost their lives for their faith.   Despite the ever-present Muslim threat, Christians from the area gathered in large numbers, evidenced by the fact that while we were there the total attendance was around 2,500, meetings being held at Talmo College in a hall holding about 800 and the messages relayed to four marquees and translated into four different tribal languages. We both felt that the trip had been well worthwhile and I was particularly grateful for the opportunity to get to know Barrie better and to discover how much we both had in common.   I went to South Africa again in November 2009 at the request of Paul Alexander to teach at the Africa School of Missions which he had founded some time previously. I enjoyed teaching the small class of students and the fellowship at mealtimes with staff members too. However, there were long periods each day when I had little to do and, apart from a quick visit to the Kruger National Park, which I had visited with Eileen in 04, I needed to find something to do to occupy my time. So I decided the start writing a new book.   For some time I had been feeling that I should write something that would be useful as a tool in evangelism, and this was confirmed by something Brian Niblock said to me when he was preaching in our church in Brixham. And that's how I came to write my little book, Signs from Heaven – why I believe. To my surprise, the whole thing was finished by the time I left South Africa.   But perhaps the most significant moment about the whole trip was what happened on the flight home. I checked in online at the earliest possible moment and was able to get a seat at the front of economy where there was the most legroom. But after boarding the plane I was soon asked by a flight attendant if I would vacate my seat as someone had been taken ill and needed easy access to a seat on that row. So I ended up sitting in a different seat, but on the same row and, as it turned out, right next to the man who was unwell.   He was accompanied by his wife who explained to me that only a few days earlier they had flown to South Africa for a holiday but on arrival her husband had been rushed to hospital. His condition, the details of which I forget, was quite rare, totally unexpected, potentially fatal, and required specialist treatment. They were returning to England in a state of shock and understandably very worried.   They asked me what I had been doing in South Africa, and I said that among other things I had been writing a book about miracles. I said something like,   It sounds like you need a miracle right now.   It turned out that they were Catholics and, though they hadn't been to church for a long time, certainly did believe in miracles. I shared the gospel with them, prayed for them, gave them a copy of my book on healing, and posted them Signs from Heaven as soon as it was published. Years later she told me that her husband, who had made an unexpectedly quick recovery, had now died, but that that encounter on the plane had restored their faith in the Lord Jesus.   My first trip to Ethiopia was in January 2005 at the invitation of Heikki Pentinnen, a Finnish missionary who was organising an international charismatic conference in Addis Ababa and looking for a main speaker to take several sessions on the gifts of the Spirit. He had heard about me from Arto Hamalainan who knew me well through our work on the PEF presidium. Hundreds of leaders, including those from Orthodox and Coptic churches, gathered from across Ethiopia for this unique occasion and I was thrilled to see their desire to get a biblical grasp on the work of the Spirit.   I made annual visits for the next four years (2006-09) teaching for one or two weeks in a Bible College in Addis at the invitation of Canadian missionaries Jeremy and Teresa Feller with whom I usually stayed. Jeremy and Teresa's parents, Brian and Valerie Rutten, had all come to Mattersey to take our MA in Pentecostal and Charismatic Studies and were keen to have me come and teach in the college where they were serving with PAOC (Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada).   On at least two of these occasions, I was accompanied by Eileen who loved the country and its wonderful people. Apart from the teaching in the college we were taken on lengthy trips to parts of the country which were far hotter than Addis where the climate is more acceptable because of its high altitude. One such trip in February 07 was to Awassa some 290 kilometres to the south. Eileen's journal captures the memory very well: Lush vegetation, bananas, sugar cane. Beautiful. Lakes, mountains, animals, people, donkey carts. Small groups of huts. Camels, ostrich, hyena. A dead animal being eaten by a vulture and a dog watching and waiting, Young children herding animals, carrying heavy loads, water, bundles of leaves, sticks.   The Pentecostal Church in Awassa where I preached on the Sunday was one of the largest in Ethiopia. 2000 people gather at 6.00 every morning to pray. There were 6000 in the 9am service. They have six branch churches with a total membership of 12,000. God is doing amazing things in Ethiopia and I'm so grateful to have had the privilege of teaching and preaching there over those few years.   And I'm grateful, too, that we were able to fund the translation into Amharic of Body Builders, my book on spiritual gifts. Despite the massive growth of the church, Ethiopian church leaders recognise their need of sound biblical teaching and if I have made at least a small contribution to that, the Lord be praised.   Ile de la Réunion (Reunion Island) Located in the Indian Ocean between Africa and India, the Ile de la Réunion is an overseas French territory. I have already mentioned in an earlier chapter how in 2004 I was the main speaker at the French National Pastors' Conference in Bordeaux. It was there that I met David Cizéron who told me about his father's work in Réunion and gave me a book about him. Aimé Cizeron was now with the Lord, but I was fascinated with the account of his apostolic ministry as a result of which some 40 churches had been planted all over the island.   So I was pleasantly surprised a year later to receive an invitation to be a guest speaker at the 40th Anniversary Celebration of the founding of ADD in Réunion in 2006. They were happy to pay the airfares for both Eileen and me and, as I learnt later, as a tropical island Réunion is a much sought after holiday destination particularly for the French. But we had accepted the invitation well before we knew all this because I was determined to visit the place where 5000 people were gathering within four weeks of the start of Cizéron's ministry as a result of the miracles of healing that were taking place.   So in April 06 we flew to Réunion via Paris, landing at the Roland Garros airport to be greeted by a TV crew asking how we were expecting the eight days of meeting to go. I was very tired after what had been an extremely long journey, made worse by an eleven hour delay in Paris, and simply replied, I believe the Lord will bless us greatly, which he certainly did.   But that did not mean that everything would go smoothly. The very next day, our hosts, Patrick and Joanna, were showing us round a market in Saint Denis when they met a friend and introduced us to her. She then said something very strange: You are not afraid of the Chikungunya? Now there were some live chickens for sale in the market and, not knowing what Chikungunya was, I thought it must be something to do with chickens.       But no. Chikungunya is a highly infectious disease borne by mosquitoes and potentially fatal! The entire island was affected by it and we had not noticed the warnings about it when we arrived at the airport. We found out later that Tom Trask, American AoG General Superintendent and guest speaker at the conference, had been warned about it in advance, but somehow no one had thought to tell us.   But despite all that, we had a great eight days of meetings and the Lord not only preserved us from the chikungunya but greatly blessed all the meetings and ministry. So much so that we were invited back the following year for a longer visit where I conducted seminars for the pastors on spiritual gifts, preached in two evangelistic meetings, and took a series of Bible studies from Monday to Friday in the church in Saint Denis.   The people were really hungry for the Word of God. In each evangelistic meeting over 200 people came forward in response to the gospel appeal, and there were over 700 each night for each of the Bible studies. My subject, as usual, was spiritual gifts, but I shall never forget the remarkable way some one came to Christ at the close of one of those meetings. But first I need to tell you about Véronique.   Véronique was a kind lady who took us to explore various parts of the island during the daytime when there were no meetings until the evening. Réunion is a volcanic island and one such trip involved driving to the top of the volcano and then walking down into its crater. This was apparently quite safe even though the volcano erupted quite frequently and the steam was still rising from the lava months after the last eruption.   One of the days we were there was a public holiday and Véronique had taken her children to the beach. While she was there she told a friend about the meetings and persuaded her to come. She came to the meeting and was so overwhelmed by the worship that she felt she had to leave. But when she was about ten minutes away from the church she suddenly heard the music from the church coming through her mobile phone. No one had called her and, unable to think of any natural explanation, she felt compelled to return to the meeting. She sat through it in tears and at the end, although I had not made a gospel appeal, came forward and asked how she could be saved. It was such a joy to be able to lead her to the Lord and to learn later that she was regularly attending her local ADD church.   So the Lord was using us and blessing us in so many different ways and I look back on those years with great gratitude to God. Next time I'll be talking about our trip to India in 2010 when I began to experience very real health challenges for the first time in my life.

Two people have been confirmed dead, with another in critical condition, following violent clashes at Mpasaaso Number 2 in the Ahafo Ano Southwest District of the Ashanti Region.

Journalists accompanying EPA officials on an anti-illegal mining operation injured after violence erupted near Obuasi in the Ashanti Region.

"Ashanti Region is grateful to you, Mahama, for giving us leaders who listen; unlike their arrogant NPP predecessors."

All shops, offices, and markets within the Kumasi Metropolis of the Ashanti Region have been closed to pay last respects to the late Asantehemaa, Nana Konadu Yiadom III, on the fourth day of her burial rites

The burial rites of the late Asantehemaa, Nana Konadu Yiadom III, begin today in Greater Kumasi in the Ashanti Region. All educational institutions within the Kumasi Metropolis, as well as offices, banks, and other financial institutions, are expected to remain closed on Thursday, September 18, 2025, to pave way for the traditional rites.

A 21-year-old man, Louis Osman, is in the custody of the Ghana Police for allegedly killing his father, Abass Osman, on a farm at Dickson in the Asante Akyem South Municipality of the Ashanti Region

Final funeral rites for the eight victims of the August 6 helicopter crash at Sikaman-Brofoyedu in the Adansi District of the Ashanti Region are underway

A 27-year-old man has been shot dead by unknown assailants at Low-Cost, a suburb of Konongo in the Ashanti Region

The government has confirmed that it has sought international assistance in investigating the August 6 Ghana Air Force Z-9 helicopter crash in the Ashanti Region, which claimed the lives of all eight people on board, including two cabinet ministers.

A collision between an OA bus and a towing vehicle in Adansi Fomena, Ashanti Region, has killed five; including the bus driver, his mate, a mother, and her child. Listen as our reporter, Pojoo, gives the full report.

Fear and panic have gripped the DCE of Akrofuom and residents of Adwafo in the Adansi Akrofuom District of the Ashanti Region following an emergency landing of a helicopter bearing the name, International Aircraft Services, with registration number AS 365N3.

President John Dramani Mahama has urged Ghanaians to set aside political differences and come together in national mourning after the tragic military helicopter crash that took eight lives on Wednesday, August 6, in the Adansi Akrofuom District of the Ashanti Region.

Two people have died after an articulated truck carrying cement pipes crashed on the Fomena–Adansi Asokwa road in the Ashanti Region. Listen as our MGL reporter, Pojoo, offers full details.

NDC government has never started and completed a project in the Ashanti Region since 1992; they have no such record - Sam Pyne, Former Kumasi Mayor.

Ernest Yaw Anim, the Member of Parliament for Kumawu in the Ashanti Region, has called on the Ghana Education Service (GES) to launch an immediate investigation after a video went viral showing two male teachers physically fighting over a female colleague. The incident reportedly took place inside a classroom at Pepease D/A Junior High School and is believed to have been sparked by relationship issues

The Ghana Police Service has arrested sixteen (16) suspects during an anti-illegal mining operation at Essuminya and Apraprama Forest Reserves in the Ashanti Region.

The deceased, identified as Akosua Atta, A.K.A Ante Ataa, was allegedly attacked and nearly beheaded in her kitchen in her house at Abompekrom, in the Obuasi West Municipality of the Ashanti Region. The sad incident occurred during a power outage caused by a GRIDCO substation transformer at Obuasi

Asante South Regional Police Command has arrested a 25-year-old man, Akwasi George, who is reported to have fatally stabbed 70-year-old Laar Ibrahim at Manso Gyeduako in the Amansie South District of the Ashanti Region.

ECG PRO William Boateng explains the recent power outages in Ashanti Region and across Ghana and what's being done to fix them.

A 34-year-old woman has been arraigned before the Obuasi Circuit Court in the Ashanti Region for allegedly kidnapping a 5-year-old girl from New Edubiase and taking her to Tuobodom, where she had kept the child for over two months. The suspect, Helena Oduro, also known as Yaa Ohenewaa, was arrested by the Tuobodom Police in the Bono East Region and later transferred to New Edubiase to face legal proceedings

The government should hand over the sanitation contract from Zoomlion to KMA and pay us the same amount. We'll manage waste in the Ashanti Region more effectively and bring in a skilled businessman to generate even greater profits. - Richard Ofori Agyeman, Mayor of Kumasi... (Hear more from this interview)

Residents of Akatakyieso in the Amansie Central District of the Ashanti Region are living in fear after an alleged invasion by an unauthorised taskforce on the concession of Mickey Mining Company

One person has been shot dead in an alleged clash between a group of military men and some youth of Nyinahin in the Ashanti Region. Five others have sustained injuries

An 18-year-old girl, identified as Afia Nkor, has been butchered in her room at Nweneso No. 2 in the Atwima Kwanwoma Municipality of the Ashanti Region by unknown assailants

Paramount Chief of Mampong, Daasebre Osei Bonsu II, has condemned the recent violent incident at the National Democratic Congress (NDC) office in Mampong, Ashanti Region, and issued a strong warning against the use of tribal sentiments in politics

Some irate youth of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Asante Mampong Municipality of the Ashanti Region have staged protests for two days over the nomination of a Municipal Chief Executive (MCE)

Two people have died following the collapse of an illegal mining pit at Mpasatia Yaw Nkwantah in the Atwima Mponua District of the Ashanti Region . Others are believed to be trapped in the pit as rescue efforts to retrieve the illegal miners continue

By Wednesday, a communique will be issued banning the eating of fufu in the Ashanti region. This move is being pushed by people with bad intentions toward the region, who will wrongly claim that all the cassava in the region is contaminated by bacteria from galamsey activities. - Nana Kwadwo Jantuah

We have successfully removed all illegal miners (galamseyers) from our forest reserves in the Ashanti Region. Our focus remains on ending galamsey activities in Ghana, and only President Mahama or the regional minister can stop us. Anyone caught will face consequences, regardless of their identity or political ties. - Captain Kwame Jabari, Ashanti Regional Security Coordinator

A member of the Forestry Commission's Rapid Response team is battling for his life after being attacked by armed illegal miners in the Offin Shelterbelt Forest Reserve in the Ashanti Region.

Suspected thieves have broken into the Sokoban Krofrom Palace in the Ashanti Region, making off with the traditional 'black stool' and other valuable items. Family members from the Adumasa clan report that a group of heavily built men raided the Palace while the new chief and other family members were at the Manhyia Palace taking the oath of allegiance

A Political Science Lecturer at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Dr Kwasi Amakye Boateng has disclosed that, the NPP is panicking in Ashante Region, fears NDC will pull more votes. He claims that although the NPP government has completed several projects, it has not been able to create any significant projects in Kumasi, in contrast to the former president who built a sizable market there.

Town folks at Adansi Brofoyedru in the Adansi Asokwa district of the Ashanti Region are finding it difficult to uncover the mystery around the sudden death of a 48-year-old woman Abena Nuamah.

The battle for Ashanti Region; Both Dr. Bawumia and John Mahama boxing themselves into the region in a desperate fight for hearts and minds.

Three suspects have been arrested in connection with the assault on some Luv FM journalists during a report on the illegal mining issue at Asumenya near Manso Nkran. The three staff members, including Erastus Asare Donkor, were attacked by armed men claiming to work for Edelmetallum Resources Limited in the Ashanti Region.

A 20-year-old named Samuel Obeng confessed to killing his 8-year-old brother, Messiah Akomeah, in a bush near Kwamo in the Ejisu Municipality of the Ashanti Region.

Three persons arrested; glass shattered at the office of the electoral commission in the Ashanti Region as the National Democratic Congress embark on a demonstration to press home their concerns about the credibility of the voter's register ahead of the 2024 general elections.

Unknown persons have reportedly stolen the battery of a tipper truck, which is part of the District Road Improvement Project (DRIP) equipment in Konongo, within the Asante Akim Central Municipality of the Ashanti Region. The Assemblyman for the municipality explains the situation.

Greetings Glocal Citizens! It's Leo season and birthday week for both my guest and me as well as fellow Glocal Citizen and birthday celebrant Muhammida El Muhajir (https://glocalcitizens.fireside.fm/guests/muhammida-el-muhajir), which is how I was introduced to my guest, Ghanaian-born, Rita Kusi. Rita is a highly respected, passionate, and result-oriented strategic human resource professional with 20 years of experience as a generalist in the field. Currently, she serves as the CEO and Senior Consultant at Keeping 'U' Simply Intact (KUSI) Consulting, a boutique Digital HR and Marketing consulting firm providing HR and Marketing services to clients across Africa and the United States. She is also the Team Lead of Execution and Strategy for the Global Conference on Human Resources in Africa (https://gchrafrica.com) (GCHRA), a gathering of visionary human resource, business, and technology leaders to empower Africa's workforce. Keep watching this space for collaborations around their upcoming conference happening October 24-25, 2024 in Accra, Ghana. She has distinguished herself as a mentor, coach, and fervent advocate for professional development. Rita is on a mission to revolutionize the role of HR within organizations. Her career highlights, including being the first black woman to hold a directorial position in a prominent U.S. condominium firm and recognition as one of the 50 most influential young Ghanaians in 2018, underscore her exceptional leadership. In 2023, she was voted and named “Ghana's Most Respected CEO in HR Management” at the 6th Ghana Industry CEO Awards by The Business Executive. Where to find Rita? Visit http://kusiconsulting.com for more on their services. On LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/ritakusi/) On Instagram (https://instagram.com/ritakusi) On Facebook (https://web.facebook.com/ritakusi81) On X (https://twitter.com/miss_kusi) On TikTok (https://tiktok.com/@ms_kusi) On Youtube (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCE3RVASINSAaOcd8CogxIoA/videos) What's Rita reading? Unbroken (https://a.co/d/jjiGtzG) by Trishia Bailey (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trisha_Bailey) Other topics of interest: Where is Bolgatanga “Bolga” (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bolgatanga), Ghana Kumasi, Capital of Ghana's Ashanti Region (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kumasi) Akan Proverbs (https://www.adinkrasymbols.org/pages/the-50-most-important-akan-proverbs/) Ghana's Labor Laws in Transition (https://www.ela.law/firms/fatima_freitas/Articles/2024-employment-law-year-in-review-ghana) About the US Diversiy Visa Lottery Program (https://www.unsunghistorypodcast.com/diversity-visa-lottery/) Impact Hub Accra (https://accra.impacthub.net) iSpace Accra (https://www.ispacefoundation.com) Who is Gary V? (https://www.linkedin.com/in/garyvaynerchuk/) About Johnny C. Taylor (https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnnyctaylorjr/) Special Guest: Rita Kusi.

An Independent Parliamentary Aspirant for the Atwima Nwabiagya North Constituency in the Ashanti Region, Emmanuel Osei Gyamfi, has promised to build an oxygen plant and nurse's bungalows to improve health service delivery in the constituency should he get the opportunity to represent the people

A former Deputy Finance Minister and Member of Parliament for Obuasi West in the Ashanti Region, Kwaku Kwarteng has likened the management of Ghana's economy to a Ponzi scheme.

"Deputy IGP—a role I've never heard of before. It's interesting how Akufo Addo acts as if he plans to stay in power forever. I don't understand why he's still keeping Dampare if he finds his work useless." Abass Nurudeen, NDC Communication Officer, Ashanti Region, on Christian Tetteh Yohuno's appointment as Deputy IGP. [Listen]

Raphael Sarfo Patrick, NPP Ashanti Regional Youth Organizer, reacts to NAPO as Bawumia's VP pick.

Hon. Dr. Bernard Okoe Boye has embarked on a four-day working visit to the Ashanti Region, where he is visiting regional and district health facilities to inspect ongoing projects and engage with staff, gathering firsthand information on the health sector in the region for policy direction

A mentally challenged man has allegedly beheaded his wife at Konongo in Asante Akyem Central of the Ashanti Region

Assembly members in the Ashanti Region have kicked against a directive of the Local Government Ministry on the fixing of end-of-service gratuity for members of the previous assemblies

14-year old girl has been sited dead in an abandoned Chinese galamsey pit at Akrokerri Bobriase in the Adansi North district of Ashanti Region. This came to bare when her siblings reported the incident to the elders of the community when she got trapped in the pit they went to swim. Speaking to Adom news correspondent, Isaac K. Normanyo, the assembly member for the Bobriase electoral area, Kwadwo Korankye confirmed the incident and disclosed that the issue has been reported to the police and the body has so far been retrieved.

A boy of 18 years, Albert Bekyi met his untimely death yesterday, April 7, 2024, in the bush at Frante of Ejura Sekyedumase Municipality in the Ashanti Region.

Woman believed to be in her 40s has allegedly stabbed her husband to death at Ashanti Mampong in the Ashanti Region