Calls for peace in the Holy Land

Amid another gloomy Christmas celebrations in the Holy Land, top Roman Catholic official, Michel Sabbah, has appealed Palestinians to halt infighting and for an end to Israeli-Palestinian bloodshed during his homily at midnight Mass in Jesus' birthplace.

"The conflict here has lasted too long. It is high time that the leaders who have our destinies in their hands in this land, specifically, the Palestinian and Israeli leaders as well as those of the international community, it is time for all of them to take new measures that will bring an end to the long phase of death in our history and lead us into a new phase in the history of this Holy Land," Sabbah said in a fervent appeal.

The Latin Patriarch called upon leaders of all hues to "examine their conscience in order to enter a new path that puts an end to bloodshed, death, and in these days to new internal quarrels"."Christmas is saying to us to put down your arms," Sabbah asserted.

The Manger square in front of the Church of Nativity saw more activities than the past years despite internal strife but the foreign tourists seem to have deserted the city."Jerusalem and Bethlehem are like twin cities. If you try to separate Bethlehem from Jerusalem it will be dead and that's what is happening.

The Israeli wall has turned it into a jail and restricted tourists", Raja Zachariah, a catholic christian from Bethelehm's old city told PTI.He shows a whole street with most of the shops shut down, including his own, to drive home his contention. The Israeli tourism ministry took several measures to facilitate the entry of tourists into Bethlehem but locals said it is not a a matter of one time thing."We have tried to make the checkpoint leading to Bethlehem as friendly as such a place could be made friendly, in discussion with Palestinians.

We have also arranged free shuttles for tourists from Jerusalem to the Church of Nativity", Oren Drori, Director of Marketing at Ministry of Tourism told PTI."The city survives on tourism and the wall has broken its backbone. No such measure is going to cheer up this city", Zachariah's friend, George, quipped in response when pointed out with Israeli measures.Hathem, a gift shop owner in a prime location close to the church of Nativity said,' it is the worst Christmas for me.

Not many tourists have come and those who are around are mostly students who have already been living here. It doesn't help".Despite all the hindrances marching bands, children dressed as Santa Claus, clergymen in magenta skullcaps, foreign tourists, including Indians, gathered in the Manger Square for the Christmas Eve celebrations.

"I had put up an application some three months back for an entry pass for the Midnight Mass. When I was told last week that I can come and collect it I was thrilled. It is like a dream come true for me", Sajan Stelas from Kerala said. Sajan had come down from the southern Israeli coastal city of Eilat especially for the celebrations.

"I can't find words to express my feelings at being here", Franklin Titus fom Mumbai said.Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas attended the Midnight Mass and was specially blessed by the Latin Patriarch.
Source:GNA

Christians mark the birth of Jesus Christ

Thousands of Christians in the Cape Coast municipality on Monday attended church service and conventions to mark the birth of Jesus Christ 2000 years ago.

Many of the churches were filled to capacity and extra seating places were created outside the church halls to accommodate the congregation.In a sermon at the St Francis de Sales Cathedral, His Eminence Peter Cardinal Appiah Turkson said the celebration of Christmas should not be used for only merry making, but rather should be used as a period for reconciliation and for people to change their ways to ensure peace and development.

He said people normally 93harden their hearts=94 to the word of God because of the fear of change, stressing that the time had come for Christians to use the word Christ brought to live decent lives and eschew all social vices to enable them enter the kingdom of Heaven.

Cardinal Turkson urged all to use the celebration to share their love, experience, blessing and joy with their neighbours, just as Christ shared the word of God with the world."Christmas is a gift from God and people should endeavour to share this gift with others"At the Varrick Memorial AME Zion church in Cape Coast, reverend Joseph Hammond, assistant pastor of the church, said the birth of Christ was a proclamation of Jesus as the Saviour.

He charged Christians to have faith in Jesus, love one another and follow his footsteps.He advised Christians to eschew hatred, envy and black mailing to promote peaceful co-existence.Rev. Hammond said when this is done, God the father would continue to bless the citizens of the country and 93we may continue to know peace in the country to ensure rapid developments in all spheres of our lives and blessings in all our endeavours=94. 25 Dec 06
Source:GNA

Public Alert From The CPP Patriots

It has come to the attention of the CPP-Patriots, a group of Nkrumaists solely dedicated to the rebuilding of the Convention People’s Party (CPP) into a formidable force in Ghanaian politics, that certain individuals claiming to be members of the CPP are going around various constituencies and asking party officials to complete a form simply titled “Political Movement” and asking these officials to forward the forms to Accra for action.

This group, which we have reliably learned is financed by a foreign government that fears the reincarnation of the CPP, is seeking to destroy the CPP in order to create a new party to serve the selfish interests of its leader, a prominent CPP member of hybrid political affiliation.

They typically send their agents to constituencies where the Patriots are in the process of opening offices (or have opened offices), thus creating the impression that somehow we are affiliated with them. We are not.

Indeed, we repudiate their nefarious activities and condemn them in the strongest possible terms.We use this opportunity, therefore, to call on all members of the Nkrumaist family, especially the CPP, to be on the alert and stand fast in this period of rejuvenation, transition and hope, and fend off these and other subversive forces that seek to pursue their narrow political interests at the expense of the nationalist and Pan-Africanist agenda of the CPP.

We should never entertain such traitors.Forward Ever, Backward Never!Issued by the:The Patriots (cpppatriots@yahoo.com) AccraDecember 23, 2006
Source:The Patriots (cpppatriots@yahoo.com)

"Afii Aya ni eba nina wo"

In Ghana, Christmas season runs from December 20th to the first week in January. This coincides with the end of the cocoa harvest, the most prosperous time of the year, which contributes to the festive atmosphere.

Ghanaians who labor far from home, in the cities, on cocoa farms, and in the mines, return home for the holiday to spend it with family and friends. Houses, schools, and vehicles are decorated with paper ornaments and crepe paper. On Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, families and friends gather to feast on rice, chicken, goat, lamb and "fufu" (a cassava-plaintain paste)

On Christmas Eve there's often an outdoor procession, perhaps led by local musicians. On Christmas Eve and Day people go caroling house-to-house, singing traditional carols in one of Ghana's 66 local languages. Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services feature carols and retellings of the Christmas story.

After church, children get small gifts from "Father Christmas", perhaps sweets, new clothes or a diary. People say Afishapa to one another, using an Akan (a major Ghanaian language) word that translates to "Merry Christmas & Happy New Year".
Father ChristmasThe children of Ghana might find it difficult to relate to the harsh cold of the North Pole, so their "Father Christmas" arrives instead from the tropics to play his part in the Christmas festivals.

His gifts are simple - good things to eat mostly - but his outfit is very elegant. Sandals peek out from under his bright red robe trimmed in golden fabric.
A traditional African patterned sash unites the colors of his outfit, and he wears a pale-colored cloak with a hood over his red cap.

While "Father Christmas" is a holdover from Ghana's colonial days, this was the first Black African country to gain its independence. Thus the people there have chosen the traditions they wish to keep from among the European customs, and expanded to encompass their own.

In Ghana the Christmas festival includes a special, religious service after which young people are given imported chocolates, and cookies and crackers prepared especially for this event. These are said to come from "Father Christmas". Christmas also coincides with harvest time for cocoa, which also is generally known as a time of abundance and good cheer.

Friends and relations travel to visit each other, celebrate the Christmas story, and share a wonderful feast.
Source:GHP