“Every Beggar Can Be Jesus Christ” – Pastor Laments Gender Minister’s ‘Anti-Almsgiving’ Directive

Presiding Prelate of the Worldwide Word Ministries, Prophet John Anokye, says the Gender Minister’s directive against almsgiving is bound to fail unless there is an alternative source of livelihood for the beggars.

According to him, even though Otiko Djaba’s campaign is backed by the Beggars and Destitutes Act, the situation could be compounded if other tangible measures are not put in place.

“Begging is a problem we will have to deal with as a country, but we need to be mindful that every beggar can be Jesus in disguise.

“It is true there are beggars who are addicts but there are genuine ones who are going hungry with no safety net to rely on.”

In in a release to the media ahead of the second anniversary of the church, the prophet opined that government should come out with long-lasting solutions instead of the ad-hoc measures being put in place.

“We will suggest that the Gender Ministry should liaise with the relevant institutions, both public and private, to find the safest way of helping people on a fundamental, holistic level so that people won’t have to beg for alms on the street, as is the case currently”, the statement advised.

The Gender and Social Protection Minister recently urged the public to stop giving money to beggars on the streets, saying those who do this are encouraging a bad practice.

She said efforts are being rolled out by her Ministry to help empower such people to be able to take care of themselves.

Also known as The Hill City Church, Worldwide Word Ministries, currently operates from the Sunlodge Hotel at Tesano in Accra.

Apart from the John Anokye Ministries Inc., the church also has an outreach wing, whose mandate is to reach out to widows, orphans and the needy with both material and spiritual aid to bring comfort and relief to them.

The anniversary celebration, starting from Monday February 12 through to February 18, is under the theme, “The Manifest Word”.