Chairman of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Eric Nyamekye, has recounted his personal experiences with armed robbery and other security challenges during his six-year stay in South Africa.
Apostle Nyamekye said he was accosted by armed robbers on two occasions while living in the country and experienced near death during the last attack.
He made the disclosure when the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, paid a courtesy call on him at the headquarters of The Church of Pentecost at La in Accra.
“I lived in South Africa for about six years and I suffered a lot from some of these things. I almost died in South Africa. Two times, I was accosted by armed robbers. The last one was too dangerous,” he said.
He further disclosed that his luggage was stolen when he was leaving South Africa.
Apostle Nyamekye also recalled returning to South Africa about a year ago following the kidnapping of a national deacon of The Church of Pentecost during an offering session.
According to him, his personal experience of insecurity in the country made him the appropriate person to travel to South Africa and engage with stakeholders over the incident.
He explained that his decision to intervene was not simply because he was the Chairman of the church, but because of his firsthand experience with the challenges confronting some Ghanaians and other people living in the country.
“And then recently, I had to rush to South Africa, about a year plus ago, when our national deacon was kidnapped in the midst of an offering and I had to rush to South Africa.
“I was the right person to go, not because I was a chairman, but because they knew that I have also suffered from some of these things so I needed to go in there and speak,” he said.
South Africa has in recent times recorded violent attacks against foreign nationals, raising concerns among governments and communities across Africa.
Some of the incidents have resulted in the destruction of businesses and property belonging to foreign nationals, as well as threats to their lives and livelihoods.
A number of countries including Ghana has evacuated its nationals from the country for safety reasons.
The Church of Pentecost dedicated its branches in South Africa to host Ghanaians who were caught up in the recent xenophobic attacks.
The Church is said to have hosted about 500 Ghanaians for two months and two weeks, providing shelter and food for the stranded Ghanaians who were caught up in the attacks.
During the courtesy call, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa commended the Church for its generous act.
“On behalf of the President John Mahama and in my on name to come and convey a depth of gratitude to you and the entire church for the remarkable role you played during the evacuation of Ghanaians in South Africa,” he said.
