Ghana’s reputation as a model for peace, tolerance and cultural harmony was evident when The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints hosted its annual Light The World celebration, The Miracle of Christmas, which brought together Members of Parliament, traditional rulers, religious leaders and hundreds of invited guests for an evening of music, reflection and spiritual renewal.
Themed ‘Experience His Light,’ the 2025 edition combined sacred music, interfaith messages and civic reflections that highlighted Ghana’s commitment to unity and shared moral values across religious and cultural backgrounds.
Tourism Minister Highlights Gratitude, Compassion and Ghana’s Interfaith Strength
Delivering one of the evening’s most heartfelt messages, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Abla Dzifa Gomashie, shared a personal reflection rooted in gratitude and national pride.
She recalled how, during her early days as a Member of Parliament at the height of the 2021 tidal waves and the Volta River Authority spill, the Church reached out to support her constituency at a critical time.
“I came tonight because gratitude demands action,” she said. “When people stand with you in your most difficult moments, you show up for them too.”
Madam Gomashie encouraged Ghanaians to revive traditional acts of kindness, including sharing food, caring for the vulnerable and helping one another beyond the festive season.
She also praised the interfaith nature of the celebration, describing The Miracle of Christmas as evidence of Ghana’s rare ability to unite people of different religious traditions in peace and mutual respect.
She noted that the music, prayers and messages shared on the night were reminders that all citizens, regardless of doctrine, hope for communities that thrive and a nation that flourishes. She added that humility, generosity and compassion, which lie at the heart of the Christmas story, continue to hold Ghanaian society together and strengthen national cohesion.
A Night of Music, Scripture and Shared Hope
Presided over by Elder Adeyinka A Ojediran, First Counselor in the Africa West Area Presidency, the event featured celebrated choirs including Harmonious Chorale, the 100 Voices Project, the Abura Ghana Stake Choir from Cape Coast, the Transcendent Choir, Kokui Serlomey and the Macedonia Methodist Junior Choir. Their choral performances set a reverent tone for the evening’s reflections on gratitude, charity and interfaith harmony.
In delivering the main spiritual message, Elder Ojediran described Christmas as a celebration of the greatest gift ever given, the birth of Jesus Christ. He emphasised Christ’s role as the Prince of Peace and the enduring source of comfort during life’s trials.
“Even in affliction, we trust Him because He descended below all things,” he said. He urged believers to practise forgiveness, kindness and compassion as expressions of Christian discipleship. He highlighted the Light The World initiative, which encourages daily acts of kindness throughout December, as a practical way of honouring Christ’s birth.
Interfaith Leaders Celebrate Ghana’s Peace and Moral Values
Representing the Office of the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Aremeyaw Shaibu praised the Church for more than a decade of friendship and collaboration. He described the gathering as a symbol of unity in diversity at a time when many parts of the world remain divided by religious tensions.
“Ghana is an excellent example of a nation where people of different faiths can meet, sit at the same table and protect the peace of their country,” he said. He urged all faith communities to uphold compassion, love, honesty and service to humanity as essential values for global harmony.
Traditional authority was represented by Nii Ahele Nunoo III, Abola Mantse, who offered a philosophical reflection linking African traditional leadership with the humility of Christ’s birth. He spoke of chieftaincy as a sacred trust and drew parallels between ancestral responsibilities and the Christian calling to serve the poor, administer justice and preserve communal harmony.
“The King of Kings arrived not in a palace but in the quiet humility of a manger,” he said, noting that this message resonates deeply with chieftains.
Faith-Based Values as a Foundation for National Leadership
Speaking on behalf of the Chief of Staff, Special Advisor to the President on the Economy, Mr Seth Terkper delivered a message focused on moral leadership. He described public service as a calling shaped by humility, compassion, honesty and faith.
“Leadership without faith becomes mechanical. Leadership with faith becomes purposeful,” he said. He added that the values highlighted at the gathering, including integrity, sacrifice and fairness, are not exclusive to any religion but are shared principles essential for national development.
Drawing on the symbolic act of lighting the Christmas tree, he noted that light does not compete with other lights but empowers them, and urged leaders to exemplify values that inspire society and challenge wrongdoing.
Lighting Ceremony Marks a Shared National Hope
The evening ended with a ceremonial lighting of the Christmas display in the courtyard, where Church leaders, dignitaries and religious figures switched on the lights together. The illumination symbolised the light of Christ, Ghana’s interfaith harmony and the shared hope for peace and goodwill in the year ahead.
The 2025 Miracle of Christmas once again demonstrated Ghana’s ability to blend culture, faith and civic values into a celebration of unity anchored in gratitude, compassion and spiritual reflection.
