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A SHORT HISTORY OF ECKANKAR GHANA SATSANG SOCIETY Eckankar Ghana Satsang Society was registered as a Religious Organization in Ghana on February 21, 1976 under the Trustees Incorporation Act of 1962. It became a Chartered Affiliate of ECKANKAR on October 22, 1991. The society celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2001. From its humble beginnings, Eckankar Ghana is now well known throughout the length and breadth of the country by many people. Eckankar Ghana held its first major ECK Seminar in August 29 - 31, 1980 at the Great Hall of the University of Ghana, Legon. The Seminar was a great success, and set the stage for the upsurge of Vahana activities in the country. It was the third ECK African Seminar, the first haven taken place in Lome, Togo in 1978, and the second in Lagos, Nigeria in 1979. In April 1985, the Society acquired an ECK Centre at No. 10 Akasanoma Road near Kwame Nkrumah Circle, Accra on rental basis. This was to be the new home of the society for several years to come. 1988 ECK African Seminar Eckankar Ghana once again successfully hosted the ECK African Seminar at the Great Hall of the University of Ghana, Legon on August 5 - 7, 1988. The Guest Speaker and Special Representative of the Mahanta the Living ECK Master, Sri Harold Klemp, was Carol Morimitsu. This event marked the beginning of an upsurge of a new growth of the ECK teachings in Ghana. Regional ECK Spiritual Aide (RESA) The year 1990 marked another milestone for Eckankar Ghana. A resident Regional ECK Spiritual Aide (RESA) for Ghana was appointed on October 22, 1990, and that meant Eckankar Ghana thenceforth had a resident representative of the Mahanta, the Living ECK Master, in Ghana. In the same year, the Religious Bodies Registration Law, PNDC Law 221, required that all religious bodies register under this law for recognition by the Government. The Society was registered with the name Eckankar Ghana Satsang Society on December 17, 1990 with Registration Certificate No. RB – 148. Charter of Eckankar Ghana Satsang Society The Charter of Eckankar Subordinate Spiritual Organisation was granted on October 22, 1991 to Eckankar Ghana Satsang Society, a Chartered Affiliate of ECKANKAR (Grantee) from the Living ECK Master, acting by, and through the subordinate entity, ECKANKAR (Grantor), a worldwide religion incorporated in the State of California. Eckankar Ghana Satsang Society thus joined the family of subordinate persons and organisations that are dedicated to helping the Living ECK Master accomplish his mission on this earth planet. It was gratifying to note that Eckankar Ghana was the first to be granted this special status on the African Continent. The Articles of the Charter comprise the Charter itself, the Articles of Incorporation and the Bye-Laws. 1995 & 1996 ECK African Seminars Eckankar Ghana hosted the ECK African Seminar for two consecutive years in August 1995 at the National Theatre, Accra and in August 1996 at the Ghana Trade Fair Centre, La Accra. The 1996 ECK African seminar was truly an international seminar, with 4,000 attendees from all over Africa, including 52 attendees from USA, Canada and Europe. As many as 950 newcomers attended the seminar The Youth Campout which immediately followed the African Seminar was equally a memorable one. The Guest Speaker, Eight Initiate Majorie Klemp spoke on the theme “Spiritual Freedom, a Key from the Mahanta.” Among the participants were 25 youth from USA, Canada and Europe who shared the Mahanta’s love with their African youth counterparts. The venue was a modern beach resort at Busua Beach, near Takoradi. The Youth Campout was a life-changing experience for all the attendees, especially for the visiting ECK youth from the USA, Canada and Europe. ECK Youth Album of Songs It was as a result of the encouragement given by the visiting ECK youth that the “Heart to Heart” Singing Group was motivated to come out with an album of songs, “Love For All” in both compact disc and cassette versions. In 1998, the Heart to Heart Group was invited to sing at the ECK Worldwide Seminar in Minneapolis, and at the Temple of ECK in Chanhassen. Encouraged by the success of the first album, the Heart to Heart came out with another album “Songs in Soul.” in the year 2000. The youth have made significant contribution to the ECK Temple Building Fund through donations from the two albums. Eckankar Booth and Reading Room In 1996 Eckankar Ghana built its permanent booth and reading room at Pavilion E at the Ghana Trade Fair Centre, La. Eckankar was the first religious organisation to participate in a Trade Fair and caught the attention of the print media. The Spectator Newspaper wrote an article with the bold heading « The Religion that was Sold at the Trade Fair ». The existence of the Booth has helped the Society to participate in all major Trade Fairs held at the Ghana Trade Fair Centre, and thereby made the ECK teachings available to the thousands of people who visit the Trade Fair Centre. In between Trade Fairs, the booth became a reading room open to the public on weekdays from 10.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. New ECK (Information) Centre In 1997, the Tenancy Agreement for the ECK (Information) Centre at 10 Akasanoma Road, Accra came to an end, and Eckankar Ghana moved the ECK Centre to its new location at 373 A Nsawam Road at Avenor Junction, Accra, on January 1, 1998. In a way, it was a move up from one-room accommodation at 10 Akasanoma Road to a six-room facility on the first floor and the use of a spacious rooftop space. 1999 ECK African Seminar The 1999 ECK African Seminar was a very special spiritually uplifting Seminar. Peter Skelsky, the President of ECKANKAR, was the Guest Speaker for the Seminar. It was his first official visit to Ghana. He was given audience by the Vice President of the Republic of Ghana. ECK Worship Service and ECK Ceremonies The Introduction of ECK Worship Service helped to expand the membership base of the Society. Other ECK Ceremonies are: ECK Consecration Ceremony for Infants, ECK Rite of Passage Ceremony for Teenagers, ECK Wedding Ceremony and the ECK Memorial Service. The ECK Rite of passage ceremony has helped the youth to build a strong spiritual foundation in the ECK teachings and to hold their own at school in the face of severe peer pressure and antagonism they experience from their school mates to abandon the path of ECK. The ECK Memorial Service has become a major focus for vahana activities in the country. Eckankar Ghana has supported the burial/cremation ceremony of ECKists who have translated(died) over the years. Since funeral ceremonies are the major focal point for social interaction in Ghana and other parts of Africa, Eckankar Ghana has had numerous opportunities to introduce the HU and the ECK teachings to large gatherings of mourners and sympathisers. As an illustration, when an Eckist who was a Banker translated a few years ago, the HU and the ECK teachings were introduced to about two thousand Bank staff family members and mourners who attended the funeral ceremony. Interaction with Traditional Rulers Eckankar Ghana has made considerable progress in introducing the Religion of the Light and Sound of God to many Traditional Rulers around the country. They have been very receptive to the ECK teachings since many of the beliefs in ECK like, Life after Death, Reincarnation, and Karma also form the foundation of traditional religious beliefs. Many have accepted invitation extended to them to attend ECK functions. Others have invited Eckankar privately for discussions on religious matters, and many others have kindly received Eckankar during courtesy calls on them. Efforts at building harmonious relationship with traditional rulers still continue. The Temple of ECK Accra It was indeed a blessing that Eckankar Ghana was among the first three Satsang Societies that received approval from ECKANKAR Spiritual Centre to build a Temple of ECK, the other two being Eckankar Nigeria and Eckankar Connecticut USA. On Sunday August 22, 1999, Peter Skelsky, President of Eckankar, graciously cut the sod for the commencement of the building of the Temple of ECK, Accra. In attendance at this memorable occasion were Members of the Board of Trustees, High Initiates and members of the Building Committee. The Administration Building of the Temple of ECK Accra was opened during the 2006 ECK Regional Seminar in April 2006. This ceremony also commemorated the 30th. year anniversary of Eckankar Ghana Satsang Society. In December 2006, the National Headquarters of Eckankar Ghana moved from its rented premises at 373A Nsawam Road Avenor Accra to the Administration Building of the Temple of ECK Accra. The Temple of ECK Accra is situate at 1st. Freetown Link, Okponglo, East Legon, next to ERATA HOTEL. The Fellowship Hall of the Temple is now the venue of the weekly Sunday ECK Worship Service in Accra. Read more about the Temple of ECK Accra, Ghana. |
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