The Ministry of Justice and Attorney-General’s Department has officially approved the revocation of marriage officer appointments for two former ministers of the Holy Apostolic Reformed Church (HARC) – Ghana, following a formal request by the church’s leadership.
In a notice issued by the Interim Superintendent of the Church, Bishop Dr. Thomas Okpoti, members of the Church and the general public were informed that the affected individuals, Bishop Abraham Adjetey Adjei and Apostle Samuel Anang Sowah are no longer authorized to officiate marriages or perform any pastoral duties under the authority of the Holy Apostolic Reformed Church (HACR).
The revocation was approved via a letter referenced S.I.2/2024 V8 from the Attorney-General’s Department.
The notice further clarified that Bishop Daniel Buernor Tokoli was never a licensed marriage officer and thus was not subject to revocation.
“All Church members throughout Ghana are hereby notified that the three former Bishops or officers can no longer continue to officiate marriages and other Pastoral duties on behalf of the Church,” the statement read.
The Church has indicated that public notices regarding the revocation will be published in the media to ensure wider dissemination.
This action forms part of the Church’s effort to maintain compliance with national regulations governing religious and pastoral responsibilities, and to protect the integrity of its operations across the country.
It could be recalled that the said officers were jailed by an Accra High Court of Justice (General Jurisdiction Court 5) and sentenced to five days imprisonment for contempt.
The ruling was delivered by His Lordship Justice William Boampong in a case involving The Registered Trustees of the Holy Apostolic Reformed Church (HARC), (Plaintiff) versus Apostle Samuel Annang Sowah, Bishop Abraham Adjetey Adjei, and Bishop Daniel Buernor Tokoli (Defendants).
The case stems from a previous ruling on October 27, 2023, where the Court convicted the Defendants for Contempt after they violated a Motion for Interlocutory Injunction.
This motion had been filed by the Plaintiff to prevent the Defendants from conducting religious services in chapels located in Nungua and Tema.
The Trustees of the HARC sued the three pastors, accusing them of illegally breaching the constitution of the church by acting independently and failing to accept the leadership of the church.
According to the leadership of the church, the conduct of the three pastors and their subsequent jail sentences have brought shame to the church hence, the church is no longer comfortable working with them in any capacity.
