Many people also stayed in their homes, while others were at drinking spots and tourists centres to await the dawn of the new year.
As soon as it struck midnight, revellers welcomed the year with the blaring of sirens, tooting of car horns, shouts of joy and firing of firecrackers in homes and on the streets.
Worshippers in churches greeted the new year with shouts of ‘Hallelujah’ and ‘Glory to God’, amidst singing and dancing to gospel tunes.
The theme for most of the watch-night services was the need for Ghanaians to be thankful for what God had done and continued to do for them and pray for a peaceful and successful 2012 general election.
Ghanaians were also urged to stay away from indiscipline, insulting behaviour and violence and avoid being used by politicians to achieve their selfish interests.
At the Holy Spirit Cathedral, Adabraka, Accra, the Metropolitan Archbishop of Accra, the Most Rev Charles Gabriel Palmer-Buckle, urged Christians not to dwell on the bad things that happened in the past year but thank God for the good things that happened in their lives, reports Rebecca Kwei.
Quoting the Scriptures, he said all things worked for the good of those of who loved the Lord and so it was important to thank God for good health, the gift of life, family and friends, freedom to worship and the relative peace the country was enjoying.
The Most Rev Palmer-Buckle said those who loved God saw His hand at work even in the midst of challenges and tragedies, adding, “In all things, give thanks to God, and even if you do not understand, pray that God will help you see with His eyes that He loves you.”
At the Calvary Methodist Church, Tema Community 3, the Minister in charge, Rev Ebenezer Douglas Bruce-Tagoe, advised Ghanaians, especially Christians, to have patience in all situations, since God had His own way of manifesting His love and grace for mankind, reports Albert Sam.
He said those who waited upon the Lord and lifted high His name and that of His Son Jesus Christ would have His protection and defence in a more righteous way.
Albert K. Salia reports from the St Peter’s Catholic Church, Osu, that the Parish Priest, Rev Fr Dominic Amegashiti, who based his New Year Homily on Deuteronomy 31:6, urged Ghanaians, particularly Christians, not to live in fear in the New Year, as the blessings of God would be poured upon them in abundance.
He urged them to be strong and courageous, as God would not forsake them, stressing, “Whatever we lost in 2011 will be regained in 2012. All the disappointments will be turned into divine appointment.”
Seth J. Bokpe reports that in a sermon based on Psalm 26 and on the theme: “2012, My Year of Divine Encounter”, Rev Dr Francis F.K Abotchi, the Parish Pastor of the Trinity Parish of the Global Evangelical Church at Kotobabi in Accra, called on Christians to renew their commitment to God in order to achieve their dreams.
“Delay is not denial. God will help realise your dreams, but you will have to commit your time, talents and resources because God will not put fire where there is no sacrifice,” he said.
In a rather rare message on New Year’s eve, Rev Dag Heward-Mills, the Founder and Presiding Bishop of the Lighthouse Chapel International, shared 25 reasons why it was important for Christians to contribute to the building of the church, Samuel Doe Ablordeppey reports.
He said the church, with all its flaws and mistakes, was God’s most important priority and, therefore, needed Christians and businesses to align their visions to what the Lord was doing in that direction.
“It is the best vision to align yourself with building and growing the church, which is the first priority of Christ, as every other thing grows out of the church,” he told an assembly of over 5,000 worshippers at The Quodesh, the global head office of the LCI.
At the Mount Olivet Methodist Church, hundreds of worshippers, many of whom were none members of the church, thronged the church premises to bid farewell to 2011 and to welcome the new year, Charles Benoni Okine reports.
In his short message before midnight, Mr Tim Acquah-Hayford, a local preacher in the church, called on Christians to ensure that they worked hard towards making their New Year resolutions a reality.
“You do not need to come here again next year same time to repeat the same resolutions,” he said, adding that resolutions were very important because of the impact they had on the lives of Christians.
Alice Aryeetey reports that at the St Peter’s Methodist Church, Odorkor, the Resident Minister, Rev Ebenezer Agyemang Badu, in his sermon, urged all Ghanaians to be very prayerful in the New Year.
He urged Ghanaians to pray for peace as the country entered an election year.
“Act according to the will of God in order to enjoy God’s mercies and let Him fulfill the promises He made for you,” he said.
The Anglican Archbishop of the Province of West Africa and Bishop of Accra, the Most Reverend Dr Justice O. Akrofi, in a New Year message, called on Ghanaians to pursue peace, justice, righteousness, reconciliation, truth and true compassion as the new year beckoned, reports the Ghana News Agency (GNA).
He explained that those values were needed for every nation or community to honour and uphold because any country that did not honour and uphold those values would be a ground for confusion, violence and destruction, thereby undermining the well-being of humanity.
The Most Rev Akrofi noted that 2012, being an election year, could generate heat and controversy and, therefore, urged Ghanaians to put into their minds those values which could contribute to the peace and security of all and sundry.
Mary Ankrah reports from the Brotherhood of the Cross and Star (BCS) Cathedral in Accra that the priest, Isaac Asare, entreated the congregation to refrain from sin and practise righteousness so that they would receive the full blessings of God.
He said God was ready to help His children if only they obeyed and abided in His Word.
He said the congregation would be able to achieve success in 2012 if they relied on the strength and mercies of God and lived upright lives.
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