In 1875, the young Samuel
Brako (also called Kwame Panin), his mother Afrah, uncles, other siblings and
other family members migrated from Juaben in the Ashanti Region during the
Second Kumasi-Juaben War of 1874-1875. The defeat of Juaben forces led the people
of Juaben, Effiduase, Asokore, Oyoko and other communities to migrate
to Akim Abuakwa in the Eastern Region under the leadership of King
Asafo Agyei of Juaben. The mother of Samuel Brako and his uncle Kwasi Addai
Adutwum settled at Osiem, near Old Tafo in Akim Abuakwa during the reign of
King Amoako Atta I of Kyebi. [1].
In 1914, an angel
appeared to Samuel Brako at Osiem where the Methodist Chapel's bell stood and
informed Samuel Brako that he had been sent by the Lord Jesus Christ to
instruct him to establish a church whose members would worship on
Saturday. Samuel Brako before these revelations was originally a member of the
Methodist Church at Osiem and functioned as one of the church’s colporteur.
Initially Samuel Brako faced a lot of opposition from the established churches
and his own uncles at Osiem that caused him to move from place to place within
the Osiem township. His uncle Kwasi Addai Adutwum whose house Brako and his
wife lived disagreed on the formation of the new church. He threw out Samuel
Brako and his wife from his house. This made Brako to move and settle at a
place called Kubaase part of the Osiem township. He faced hostility
from the people here too. He eventually crossed the Subi River and settled near
the Bososo-Begoro Road, (where the present Seventh Day Adventist Church is
located at Osiem) and settled there. This location was called Asuogya during
Brako’s time but it currently called SDA.
During the early years of
the church’s formation, members worshipped alternatively on Sunday and Saturday
and with a lot of laxity however, the year in which his son Prophet (Odiyifo)
Emmanuel Kwaku Adutwum was born, it became official that the Church would
observe the Sabbath with little or no work done on that day. Samuel Brako did
not worship with the SDA Church neither was he ever taught by them. Several
sources within SDA and the Faith Church indicate that the Faith Church was
founded wholly by Samuel Brako as an independent church and Brako only met SDA
officials in the 1930s as part of the efforts to merge both Sabbath churches.
In fact, at the time of the founding of the Faith Church, there was no SDA
Church in the Akim Abuakwa and Koforidua area. SDA only came into being in the
Akim and Koforidua areas after the merger efforts failed in 1934 [2].
In 1936, a year after the
birth of Samuel Brako’s twins, he bought a large property (which was being used
as a cocoa-shed) from the cocoa brokering company Swanzy and used it as a
worship centre and also as a dwelling place. [3]. Most of Samuel Brako’s elders
lived in this building with him. And it was at this location that the Church
became fully established. Samuel Brako also secured permission from Nana Kwaku
Agyei (the chief of Osiem) to use the land surrounding the Swanzy building to
establish a mission. The chief agreed and many of Samuel Brako’s followers
settled there and built their own houses (at present day Saviour Church
Mission). Those whose houses are still found in the mission are Papa Gyan, Papa
Bonti, and Papa Joshua Darko, John Kwaku Badu (Brako’s brother), Opanin Isaac
Kwadwo Asirifi. (Osiem currently has the following residential zones: Afigya,
Nsuo Ase, Kubaase, Asantefoɔ mu, SDA, Gyidi, Atwomaa krom, Zongo, Ayigbe town,
ECOMOG. During Samuel Brako's time Afigya, Kubaase, Nsuo Ase formed the main
part of the village).
Elder Samuel Brako later
received one Akokora John from Huni-Valley. The two had not known each other
personally. According this account, Akokora John went to Osiem to strengthen
Samuel Brako. He was very reluctant to travel to Osiem because it was planting
season and wanted to finish clearing the bush and the planting season before
moving. The LORD understood his reason for being reluctant and by a miracle
shortened the time his corn/maize took to germinate, grow and mature. After
this demonstration of the LORD’s power, he quickly harvested their crop and
moved to Osiem to join Samuel Brako in building the Church. In 1932, Samuel
Brako also received the Kroffa brothers (Samson and Edward) who were staunch
evangelists. The Krofas were helpful in planting the Church in many parts of
the country [4].
Brako’s wife (Mary Akosua
Amonu Gyamfua), his children (Sarah Akua Konadu, Akua Mansah, Prophet Kwaku
Emmanuel, Kofi Sem) his brothers Kwaku Adu and Kwaku Badu (the father of
Abraham Kwaku Adusei the current head of Saviour Church of Ghana) and his in-laws
including John Kwasi Owusu Atobra, and Kwasi Sakra (who were Brako’s brothers
in-law, brothers to Amonu Gyamfua), and Kwaku Adu a nephew of Brako were
instrumental in laying the foundation of the church.
Other prominent members
whose contribution was crucial were Pastor Appiah Dankwa [5], Elder Jacob Kwaku
Agyei, John Kwasi Mensah (from Nkyiripuaso near Juaben, and the first ordained
baptist in the Church and the father of Brako’s wife), Papa Gyan whose son
Kwasi Gyan (was a prominent prophet and a relative of Brako’s wife), Moses
Mossi Baanie, Elder Kwasi Beremfo, Papa Bonti, Papa Joshua Darko, Elder Ayitey,
Papa Afrifa, Elder Yaw Abrokwah, Elder Duodu (a staunch evangelist and husband
of Brako’s daughter Mansah), Elder Kwasi Agyapong Mensah, and Eshun Mensah (a
Fanti, a singer and the composer of the Church’s early lyrics) [6]. Eshun
Mensah was also Samuel Brako’s secretary (“krakye”) and a prominent evangelist
who is credited with the growth of the church in many parts of the country.
Opanin Isaac Asirifi was Samuel Brako’s Bible reader (“kenkani”) and lived with
Samuel Brako). Ofori Duodu, the son-in-law of Samuel Brako also used his
Spiritual gift as an evangelist to preach the word of God to many people in the
Akim Abuakwa area. Elder Yaw Abrokwah who was a singer and a prominent prophet
left his dwelling at Old Tafo in Akim Abuakwa and moved to Osiem so he could
work with Samuel Brako [7]. Elders Emmanuel Obeng, Yaw Dankwa and Kwasi Mensah
Agyapong of Amua also strenuously worked with Samuel Brako in establishing the
branches in the Kwahu area. The Agogo branch of the Church was established
through the pastoral effort of Elders Stephen Atta, Opanin Kone, and
(Acheampong who once served in the Agogo Palace). Elder Abraham Nsia of Asamang
in the Ashanti Region was also instrumental in the growth of the church in the
region.
Women also played
important role in the early years of the Church. Apart from Amonu Gyamfua
(Samuel Brako’s wife), other women who worked tirelessly with the men included
Akua Moomo (a sister to Amonu Gyamfua), Maame Akua Esua, Maame Dansoa, Maame
Afua Hum, Maame Yaa Henewaa and Maame Afia Ansah (a singer and a
direct sister of Opanin Issac Asirifi).
Samuel Brako, the Krofas
and their co-workers laboured day and night to bring the gospel of our Lord
Jesus Christ to countless others. They preached the gospel to the people of
Osiem and the surrounding villages including Old Tafo and Kukurantumi telling
them to refrain from alcohol, adultery, adulatory, fornication, theft, and
anything that corrupts the body. Brako entreated his followers to pay special
attention to holiness, righteous, spiritual growth, fasting, prayers, love and
charity.
God filled Samuel Brako
with his power (Holy Spirit) and he performed many miracles
including one that caused almost the entire Agogo community in Ashanti to
convert to Gyidi. Through the healing power of the Holy Spirit the sick were
healed, demons were cast, and many souls were saved from the destruction of
alcohol. Because of the presence of the Holy Spirit in their midst members
hardly ever got sick and hardly visited the hospital. Indeed, the gospel
message preached by Samuel Brako and his lieutenants was so much backed by the
total power of the Holy Spirit so much so that it earned them the Akan phrase
“kyiri bentoa” which translates as people who have no need for physicians.
People feared to sin because as soon as the sin was committed the Holy Spirit
would reveal it to the prophets who in turn inform the leaders. The prophets
spent most of their time interceding on behalf of the members. No one was paid
for doing their job. Founder Samuel Brako preached to members to be content
with what they always have.
Under the able leadership
of Samuel Brako the Church spread to other parts of Ghana including Kwahu,
Akuapem, Fante, Asante and Brong Ahafo. Because of lack of transportation
networks most of these places were reached by means of walking. For instance when
moving from Akim to Ashanti, Samuel Brako and his team would take the sleeper
train from Bososo to Boankra and do the remaining journey by foot. In the early
years of the church, it spread mostly through the Akan communities especially
the villages but it soon reached the towns.
Church Doctrine and
Organisation
The Church was founded as
a Spiritual Church and as such God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit are to be
revered. Both the Old and New Testaments of the Bible are recognised as the
main source of scriptural authority on which teachings are based. In other
words, the Church draws heavily from the New Testament and also the Old
Testament. Apart from worshiping and observing the Sabbath on Saturday, Founder
Samuel Brako was instructed by the Holy Spirit to let his followers treat the
meeting place as a holy place in line with God’s encounter with Moses (Exodus
3:5) and Joshua (Joshua 5:15) in which both leaders were instructed to remove
their sandals before approaching God (see also Acts 7:33; Matthew 18:20). As a
result members remove their sandals anytime they come into the presence of God.
Removal of sandals takes place when members attend church, prayer service or in
any other place connected with God. This is in reverence to God [8].
Samuel Brako was
instructed to follow the guidelines established in the Book of the New
Testament regarding who could be ordained a pastor or Bishop. In this regard,
men only would be ordained pastors and bishops, and also to pray at every
religious gathering in accordance with the teachings of the Gospel as found in
1 Timothy 2:8-14 (See the notes below for what these verses say). Through this
instruction, Founder Samuel Brako ordained many men from every part of the then
Gold Coast (now Ghana) to become pastors for the church [9].
New converts must confess
their sins during baptism. Baptism is by total immersion. Both adults and
children could be baptised. In the early years of the church’s founding,
members were not burdened with payments of money such as tithe and weekly
collection. Tithe payment is still prohibited. Weekly collection is still
voluntary. As they are not paid, pastors and deacons must endeavour to work for
their livelihoods and not expect to be paid. Payments in the form of salaries
and allowances were and are still completely discouraged. The Church places
more emphasis on the use of African melodies. Songs are sung in local language
and there is no elaborate use of musical instruments. Water and non-alcoholic
beverages are used during the Holy Communion or Sacrament rather than alcoholic
wine.
The church under Samuel
Brako was organised around four main ministries: The Pastoral Ministry; The
Prophetic Ministry; The Evangelism Ministry; and The Music and Song
Ministration Ministry. These four pillars were not separated but worked in
tandem for the total growth of the Church. (This practice is still noticeable
in True Faith Church and Faith Salvation, though it is less noticeable in
Saviour Church). Each of the Ministry is headed by a person who is full of
faith, wisdom and the Holy Spirit.The Head of the Church (severally called
overseer, superintendent) is divinely appointed through prayers and request
from the LORD Jesus Christ. Until recently (early 1990s) no elaborate titles
(such as bishops, apostles, archbishop) were used for the heads of the various
ministries. The title usually used during the early years of the church was the
Akan word “Opanin” which translates as “Elder”. (Since the early 1990s, True
Faith Church in particular has adopted titles such as bishops, apostles, Senior
Apostles for its leaders).
Women are not to be left
out in the church organisation. They are to be part of the strong Prophetic
Ministry as prophets as well as the Singing and Songs Ministration Ministry.
Sarah Akua Konadu, the daughter of Samuel Brako, Madam Akua Esua, Madam Afia
Ansah were strong singers whose singing abilities attracted many unbelievers to
the Church.
Dress Code
Men and women are to shun
costly apparel and any appearance of the world. Men are to wear long robes
(white robes during Sabbath days and red robes during all other days and
occasions. The robes are to be of the same design. Modesty is emphasised. Women
must cover their head so they can have a good relationship with God, Jesus, the
Holy Spirit and the angels as is instructed in 1 Corinthians 11:2-16; 1 Timothy
2:9; 1 Peter 3:3-6 (see the reference below for what these verses say) [10].
Samuel Brako’s favourite
sermons were “Love”, “Doing Charity”, “Holiness” and “Righteousness”.
Death of Samuel Brako and
Succession
Founder Samuel Brako died
in the mid-1940s. [11]. He left behind a well-established Bible-based and Holy
Spirit-driven Church with branches all the country. He also left behind 10
children (Akua Konadu, Akua Mansah, Kwaku Emmanuel, Akua Afra, Kwaku Sem, Joshua
Adjei Adusei, Yaa Ataa, Yaw Tawiah Moses, Kofi Badu popularly called 13, and
Afua Duku) who continued the good work of their father. According to his son
Joshua Adjei Adusei, he was present when his father anointed an old man by name
Elder Moses Mossi Baanie as his successor. However, Opanin Mossi was old and
enlisted Elder Isaac Kwadwo Asirifi to be his assistant. Elder Moses Mossi
Baanie became less active due to his age and Elder Asirifi (who was very
outspoken) finally replaced him as the leader of the Church. (Elder Asirifi was
not a direct relative of Samuel Brako as is sometimes claimed) but lived with
Samuel Brako as a young man.
There are no known
photographs of Samuel Brako but everyone who saw him acknowledges that his son
Prophet Kwaku Emmanuel was the carbon copy of his dad. In other words, Founder
Brako was tall and slender.
First Schism
However, after the death
of Samuel Brako, disagreement arose between Elder Asirifi on one hand and some
of the leaders especially Elder Emmanuel Obeng, Elder Abraham Nsia of Asaman,
Elder Yaw Dankwa and Elder Mensah of Asuonyunu on the other hand. The disagreement
centred around the Biblical teachings of 1 Timothy 3:2-4 where would-be pastors
are supposed to be husbands of one wife [12].
This text concerns the
qualification of a bishop. It admonishes pastors and church leaders to be
husbands of one wife but Opanin Asirifi had two wives and so the leaders
objected to him becoming the leader of the church and administering communion
or sacrament. The disagreement was not resolved amicably and the Church split
between Opanin Asirifi and the other group during the Convention at Asante
Akyem Obogu. Opanin Isaac Kwadwo Asirifi affectionately called Dadeako later
named his version of Gyidi “The Saviour Church of Ghana” (nkwagyesom) with the
headquarters at Osiem while Elder Obeng and his group called theirs “True Faith
Church of Ghana” (nokware gyidifo) with the headquarters at Kwahu Praso, in
Eastern Region. Elder Yaw Dankwa anointed Elder Emmanuel Obeng as the head of
True Faith Church in 1957 with Prophet Ebenezer Adarkwaa as head of the
Prophetic Ministry. Elder Emmanuel Obeng died in 1966 and Elder Joseph Ampadu
was divinely elected as his successor in 1967.
The two branches continue
to observe the Sabbath but over the years there has been significant changes in
the organisation of the two churches. As mentioned earlier, the church under
Samuel Brako was organised around four main ministries: The Pastoral Ministry;
The Prophetic Ministry; The Evangelism Ministry; and The Music and Song
Ministration Ministry. These four pillars were not separated but worked in
tandem for the total growth of the Church. (This practice is still very
noticeable in True Faith and Faith Salvation, and less noticeable in Saviour
Church). Each of the Ministry is headed by a person who is full of faith,
wisdom and the Holy Spirit. The Head of the Church (severally called overseer,
superintendent) is divinely elected through prayers and request from the LORD
Jesus Christ. Until recently (early 1990s) no elaborate titles (such as
bishops, apostles, archbishop) were used for the heads of the various
ministries. The title usually used during the early years of the church was the
Akan word “Opanin” which translates as “Elder”. (Since the early 1990s, True
Faith Church first adopted the title ”Bishop” for the head of the church. This
was later changed to ”Apostle” and then to ”Senior Apostle”).
Elaborate titles are still absent in Saviour Church.
Since the death of
Asirifi in 1997, the Saviour Church has placed little emphasis on the prophetic
ministry, whereas True Faith continues to regard prophetic ministry as a
critical component of the church in line with the tradition established by
Founder Samuel Brako. Opanin Isaac Kwadwo Asirifi did not let his followers
know that he did not found the church. In fact, many in the Saviour Church
(except the older generation) until recently did not know that Opanin Asirifi
did not found the church. Elder Asirifi worked hard to erase any traces of
Samuel Brako’s name from the church. This however, was not the case in True
Faith Church. The True Faith Church even composed songs celebrating the immense
contribution of the Founder and his elders.
There is one more
significant difference between Saviour Church and True Faith Church regarding
activities they organise every year. The calendar year of True Faith Church is
divided into three: a Synod meeting involving pastors, deacons and church leaders
usually held at the headquarters; prophetic meeting involving all the prophets
is held around August every year; and annual convention which takes place
around 25 December till 1 January of the New Year. The annual convention is
rotated throughout the branches in the country. The Saviour Church also has
synod and annual convention but not prophetic meeting. Meanwhile the annual
convention always takes place at Osiem and nowhere else.
Other Schisms
Both Saviour Church and
True Faith Church have suffered further divisions as a result of leadership and
succession problems. For example when Opanin Asirifi died in 1997 one of his
children by name Mr. Kofi Elia wanted to succeed him (claiming that the church
was founded by his father Asirifi) but Mr. Elia was unsuccessful because the
elders knew his father did not found the church and so made Abraham Kwaku
Adusei, a nephew of Samuel Brako, its new Superintendent or
overseer. Mr. Kofi Elia refused to abide by the dictates of the church
leadership and the matter went to court. Eventually, Mr. Kofi Elia left Osiem
to go and establish his own church at Mankrong Junction and later at Nyanyano
in the Gomoa District of the Central Region. (Since the death of Elder Isaac
Kwadwo Asirifi, the factions of both Kofi Elia and Abraham Adusei have engaged
in violent clashes sometimes involving the use of harmful objects. Millions of
cedis worth of property have been destroyed and the good name of the Church has
been severely tarnished.
The True Faith Church has
suffered more division than the Saviour Church. In the 1980s several leaders in
Ashanti Region including Elder Abraham Nsia of Asante Asamang, Magya Sampson of
Bodomasi near Kumawu, Pastor Thomas of Abrepɔ of Kumasi, and Prophet Emmanuel
Kwaku Adutwum broke away to form Faith Salvation Church and other denominations
such as United Faith Church. Later some of the leadership of Faith Salvation
and United Faith Church rejoined True Faith Church but some of the members
remained to continue to operate as Faith Salvation Church. Faith Salvation has
also suffered divisions to the point that there are different versions of Faith
Salvation including Spiritual Faith Salvation and Reform Faith Salvation.
The True Faith Church
suffered its most devastating schism since the death of Apostle Joseph Ampadu
in late 2000s. Apostle Ampadu who according to historical accounts joined the
Church in 1948, was ordained a pastor in 1952, and headed the Church for more
than three decades. He became the head of the church in 1967. After his death,
succession battle rocked the church. In the past the church had always relied
on God to determine who could be the leader after the death of the incumbent.
Prophet John Owusu Achiaw was the head of the Prophetic Ministry within the
Church. Owusu Achiaw was made the caretaker leader after the death of Ampadu.
As head of the Prophetic Ministry, it was his duty to find out from God who was
the rightful person to succeed Apostle Ampadu. Apostle John Owusu Achiaw
demonstrated his interest to become the new head of the Church.
However, after the death
of Apostle Ampadu, an audio cassette surfaced in which Apostle Ampadu
purportedly nominated Apostle Moses Appah to be his successor. The voice on the
cassette was not questioned. However, the authenticity of the cassette was questioned
since many of the leadership of the church denied knowing anything about the
existence of the cassette. It was thought that Apostle Ampadu was influenced by
some leading members who took advantage of his old age to record the audio in
order to perpetuate the Kwahu hegemony in the Church hierarchy. Since the death
of Samuel Brako and the division of the Church into two, the True Faith Church
has always been led by a Kwahu one of the two dominant tribes that form the
bulk of the Church’s membership. The other dominant tribe is the
Asantes/Ashantis. The Ashantis have been complaining and murmuring about this
Kwahu dominance for a long time and wanted the status quo changed. It is this
background that made the Asantes to raise serious questions about the need for
the cassette [13]. After several meetings majority of the leadership
of the Church agreed for Apostle John Achiaw to become the new leader. But
Apostle Moses Appah’s faction disagreed and finally took the matter to Court.
Eventually, Moses Appah and his faction lost the court battle and proceeded to
breakaway to form the True Faith Evangelical Church. The Church was therefore
split on tribal lines with the bulk of Kwahu backing Apostle Appah and Asantes
supporting Apostle Owusu Achiaw. Since the death of Apostle Ampadu more
division has taken place. True Faith of Love headed by Apostle Mensah together
with Precious New True Faith Church International headed by Apostle Daniel
Adjei came into being. In 2019, Precious New True Faith further split into two.
The Saviour Church, True
Faith and Faith Salvation continue to experience litigations which have
seriously undermined the good work of Samuel Brako. Indeed, nobody ever thought
that Gyidi Asɔre or Memeneda Kɔkɔɔ as the Church is known in the Akan language
throughout Ghana could be associated with such litigations and disputes [14].
The Ghanaian media have extensively covered these litigations and leadership
succession struggles that have come to be associated with the once glorious
Church.
Membership
The many break ups have
given rise to the phrase “Brako Faiths” which is a term used to refer to all
the denominations that trace their origin and heritage to the Founder.
Membership of the Brako Faiths are more than 100,000 worldwide. According to
Baeta (1962:66) in 1954 Saviour Church had about 3,421 members, however by the
early 1960s the figure had more than doubled to 7000 found in 83 branches. In
1995, the Missionary Atlas Project (MAP) put both members and
affiliate members of Saviour Church to 31,800 found in 257 branches. In 2014,
the leader of the Church at Osiem said the church membership was 100,000 of
which 80 percent were into farming. The figure for True Faith Church in 1995
was 50,600 with 183 branches (MAP, 2005:23) [14]. From the 1990s onwards,
particularly under the leadership of Elder Joseph Ampadu, the True Faith Church
established several branches throughout the world especially in Europe and
North America. Today, it has branches in Canada, France, Germany, Holland,
Italy, the United Kingdom and the United States of America.
The Saviour Church under
the leadership of Abraham Kwaku Adusei has embarked on several socio-economic
infrastructure projects particularly at Osiem where it is headquartered. It has
built a major clinic (Hawa Memorial Saviour Church Hospital) that serves Osiem
and its environs. The clinic has facilities such as Maternity, Orthopaedic,
X-Ray, Scan, Pharmacy, Out-Patient Department and Laboratory and other units.
It has also established a nursing training school at Osiem (Saviour Church
Nursing and Midwifery Training College (SCNMTC), and has a functioning
secondary school that serves not only its members but the entire Osiem
community and its environs. The church has 12 basic schools throughout the
country. The Church has also connected every home in its catchment area at
Osiem with pipe borne water. During the time of the late Elder Isaac Asirifi
the Osiem community enjoyed electricity and this has continued under Abraham K.
Adusei [16].
The Akan phrases such as
‘Memeneda som’ (Sabbath worship), ‘Memeneda Gyidifo’ (Sabbath Believers),
‘Memeneda Kɔkɔɔ’ (Sabbath Observers who wear red robes), ‘Nkwagyesom’ (Saviour
Church), ‘Nokware Gyidi’ (True Faith) are all names associated with the Church.
Written by Lord Aikins
Adusei. Adusei is a great grandson of Samuel Brako. Adusei holds BSc degree
from Kwame University of Science and Technology (KNUST, Kumasi-Ghana), MSc
degree from Stockholm University (Stockholm, Sweden), another MSc degree from
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (Uppsala), and is a PhD candidate
in the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London,
London in the United Kingdom. Adusei is worried about the disintegration and
destruction of the church his grandfather founded and is mounting campaign
reverse the decline of the Church [17].
Copyright: No part of
this account can be distributed, copied, edited without the authorisation of
the author.
Notes
[1] Addo-Fening, R. 1973.
The Background to the Deportation of King Asafo Agyei and the Foundation of New
Dwaben. Transactions of the Historical Society of Ghana, Vol. 14, No. 2, pp.
213-228
[2] SDA was only
established at Osiem in 1935 after the talks in 1934 failed. True Faith
Church takes their year of foundation from 1914 whereas Saviour Church takes
the year of foundation from 1924, the year Sabbath was fully
recognised. This explains why True Faith Church celebrated 100 Years
Anniversary in 2014 while Saviour Church celebrated 90thAnniversary in the same
year.
[3] Swanzy, H. 1956. A
Trading Family in the Nineteenth Century Gold Coast. Transactions of the Gold
Coast & Togoland Historical Society, Vol. 2, No. 2, pp. 87-120;
Southall, R. J. 1978. Farmers, Traders and Brokers in the Gold Coast Cocoa
Economy. Canadian Journal of African Studies, Vol. 12, No. 2, pp. 185-211
[4] Sampson Krofa was a
powerful evangelist/prophet who was gifted with the power of healing and was
used by the LORD tremendously. Sampson Krofa played instrumental role in
establishing the branches at Kukuom, and Techimantia among others.
[5] Pastor Appiah Dankwa,
John Kwasi Owusu Atobra, Edward Krofa along with Eshun Mensah were the most
educated members of the church at the time. Atobra who was a
hunter for the King of Juaben also helped to found the village
called kurofrom near Nkyiripuaso. Eshun Mensah married the daughter of Opanin
Kwaku Sem of Osiem. Mensah is credited with bringing Gyidi to Besease, and
Nkawkaw in Kwahu.
[6] Eshun Mensah (a
former pupil teacher) was responsible for the songs that the True Faith Church
continues to use today. Saviour Church used to use the same songs until it
changed it in the 1970s by adding other instruments rather than bells. The
changes in Saviour were made by Opanin Kwabena Nti.
[7] Edward Krofa married
Maame Akua Esua (sister to Brako’s wife Amonu Gyamfua). Maame Afia Ansah was a
singer and direct sister of Opanin Issac Asirifi. Saviour Church used to use
the same songs until it changed it in the 1970s by adding other instruments
rather than bells. The changes were made by Opanin Kwabena Nti who introduced
the style of music and songs in Saviour Church. He also introduced the concept
of Boysco, Girlsco and Womensco in Saviour Church in the 1970s.
[8] Exodus 3:5 “And he
said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place
whereon thou standest is holy ground.” Joshua 5:15 “And the captain of the
LORD'S host said unto Joshua, Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place
whereon thou standest is holy. And Joshua did so.” Matthew 18:20 “For where two
or three [people] are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of
them”.
[9] 1 Timothy 2:8-14 vs
8) “I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without
wrath and doubting. 9) But (which becometh women professing godliness) with
good works. 11) Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. 12) But I
suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in
silence. 13) For Adam was first formed, then Eve. 14) And Adam was
not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression”).
[10] 1 Corinthians
11:4-10 vs 4) Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered,
dishonoureth his head. 5) But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her
head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were
shaven. 6) For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be
a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered. 7) For a man
indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of
God: but the woman is the glory of the man. 8) For the man is not of the woman;
but the woman of the man. 9) Neither was the man created for the woman; but the
woman for the man. 10) For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head
because of the angels”. 1 Timothy 2:9 “In like manner also, that
women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not
with braided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array”. 1 Peter 3:3-6 vs 3)
“Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of
wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; 4) But let it be the hidden man
of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and
quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. 5) For after this
manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned
themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands.”
[11] Baeta, C. G. 1962.
Prophetism in Ghana: A Study of some ‘Spiritual’ churches. London, S.C.M.
Press; Nortey, J. J. 1989. Independent African Churches—Are They Genuinely
Christian? Adventist Spectrum, Vol. 20, No. 2, p. 29-37
[12] 1 Timothy 3:2-4 KJV
[2] “A bishop then must be blameless, the HUSBAND OF ONE WIFE,
vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; [3] Not
given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler,
not covetous; [4] One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in
subjection with all gravity”.
[13] Some of the schism
happened in the 1980s because of this perceived dominance of the Church
leadership by Kwahu.
[14] Gyidi Asɔre
(translates as Faith Church). Memeneda Kɔkɔɔ (translates as Sabbath observers
who wear red robes).
[15] Baeta, C. G. 1962.
Prophetism in Ghana: A Study of some ‘Spiritual’ churches. London, S.C.M.
Press; Missionary Atlas Project (MAP). Ghana, West Africa Snapshots Section.
http://www.worldmap.org/uploads/9/3/4/4/9344303/ghana_profile.pdf (accessed 28/02/2020)
[16] Ghana Today. 2014.
Saviour Church of Ghana is 90 years. 27 February 2014. https://www.todaygh.com/saviour-church-ghana-90-years/ (accessed
28 February 2020).
[17] To cite: L. A.
Adusei. 2020. Samuel K. Brako: Founder of The Saviour Church of Ghana &
True Faith Church of Ghana (aka Gyidi Asɔre).
*All Bible quotations are
from the King James Version of the Bible.
In 1875, the young Samuel
Brako (also called Kwame Panin), his mother Afrah, uncles, other siblings and
other family members migrated from Juaben in the Ashanti Region during the
Second Kumasi-Juaben War of 1874-1875. The defeat of Juaben forces led the people
of Juaben, Effiduase, Asokore, Oyoko and other communities to migrate
to Akim Abuakwa in the Eastern Region under the leadership of King
Asafo Agyei of Juaben. The mother of Samuel Brako and his uncle Kwasi Addai
Adutwum settled at Osiem, near Old Tafo in Akim Abuakwa during the reign of
King Amoako Atta I of Kyebi. [1].
In 1914, an angel
appeared to Samuel Brako at Osiem where the Methodist Chapel's bell stood and
informed Samuel Brako that he had been sent by the Lord Jesus Christ to
instruct him to establish a church whose members would worship on
Saturday. Samuel Brako before these revelations was originally a member of the
Methodist Church at Osiem and functioned as one of the church’s colporteur.
Initially Samuel Brako faced a lot of opposition from the established churches
and his own uncles at Osiem that caused him to move from place to place within
the Osiem township. His uncle Kwasi Addai Adutwum whose house Brako and his
wife lived disagreed on the formation of the new church. He threw out Samuel
Brako and his wife from his house. This made Brako to move and settle at a
place called Kubaase part of the Osiem township. He faced hostility
from the people here too. He eventually crossed the Subi River and settled near
the Bososo-Begoro Road, (where the present Seventh Day Adventist Church is
located at Osiem) and settled there. This location was called Asuogya during
Brako’s time but it currently called SDA.
During the early years of
the church’s formation, members worshipped alternatively on Sunday and Saturday
and with a lot of laxity however, the year in which his son Prophet (Odiyifo)
Emmanuel Kwaku Adutwum was born, it became official that the Church would
observe the Sabbath with little or no work done on that day. Samuel Brako did
not worship with the SDA Church neither was he ever taught by them. Several
sources within SDA and the Faith Church indicate that the Faith Church was
founded wholly by Samuel Brako as an independent church and Brako only met SDA
officials in the 1930s as part of the efforts to merge both Sabbath churches.
In fact, at the time of the founding of the Faith Church, there was no SDA
Church in the Akim Abuakwa and Koforidua area. SDA only came into being in the
Akim and Koforidua areas after the merger efforts failed in 1934 [2].
In 1936, a year after the
birth of Samuel Brako’s twins, he bought a large property (which was being used
as a cocoa-shed) from the cocoa brokering company Swanzy and used it as a
worship centre and also as a dwelling place. [3]. Most of Samuel Brako’s elders
lived in this building with him. And it was at this location that the Church
became fully established. Samuel Brako also secured permission from Nana Kwaku
Agyei (the chief of Osiem) to use the land surrounding the Swanzy building to
establish a mission. The chief agreed and many of Samuel Brako’s followers
settled there and built their own houses (at present day Saviour Church
Mission). Those whose houses are still found in the mission are Papa Gyan, Papa
Bonti, and Papa Joshua Darko, John Kwaku Badu (Brako’s brother), Opanin Isaac
Kwadwo Asirifi. (Osiem currently has the following residential zones: Afigya,
Nsuo Ase, Kubaase, Asantefoɔ mu, SDA, Gyidi, Atwomaa krom, Zongo, Ayigbe town,
ECOMOG. During Samuel Brako's time Afigya, Kubaase, Nsuo Ase formed the main
part of the village).
Elder Samuel Brako later
received one Akokora John from Huni-Valley. The two had not known each other
personally. According this account, Akokora John went to Osiem to strengthen
Samuel Brako. He was very reluctant to travel to Osiem because it was planting
season and wanted to finish clearing the bush and the planting season before
moving. The LORD understood his reason for being reluctant and by a miracle
shortened the time his corn/maize took to germinate, grow and mature. After
this demonstration of the LORD’s power, he quickly harvested their crop and
moved to Osiem to join Samuel Brako in building the Church. In 1932, Samuel
Brako also received the Kroffa brothers (Samson and Edward) who were staunch
evangelists. The Krofas were helpful in planting the Church in many parts of
the country [4].
Brako’s wife (Mary Akosua
Amonu Gyamfua), his children (Sarah Akua Konadu, Akua Mansah, Prophet Kwaku
Emmanuel, Kofi Sem) his brothers Kwaku Adu and Kwaku Badu (the father of
Abraham Kwaku Adusei the current head of Saviour Church of Ghana) and his in-laws
including John Kwasi Owusu Atobra, and Kwasi Sakra (who were Brako’s brothers
in-law, brothers to Amonu Gyamfua), and Kwaku Adu a nephew of Brako were
instrumental in laying the foundation of the church.
Other prominent members
whose contribution was crucial were Pastor Appiah Dankwa [5], Elder Jacob Kwaku
Agyei, John Kwasi Mensah (from Nkyiripuaso near Juaben, and the first ordained
baptist in the Church and the father of Brako’s wife), Papa Gyan whose son
Kwasi Gyan (was a prominent prophet and a relative of Brako’s wife), Moses
Mossi Baanie, Elder Kwasi Beremfo, Papa Bonti, Papa Joshua Darko, Elder Ayitey,
Papa Afrifa, Elder Yaw Abrokwah, Elder Duodu (a staunch evangelist and husband
of Brako’s daughter Mansah), Elder Kwasi Agyapong Mensah, and Eshun Mensah (a
Fanti, a singer and the composer of the Church’s early lyrics) [6]. Eshun
Mensah was also Samuel Brako’s secretary (“krakye”) and a prominent evangelist
who is credited with the growth of the church in many parts of the country.
Opanin Isaac Asirifi was Samuel Brako’s Bible reader (“kenkani”) and lived with
Samuel Brako). Ofori Duodu, the son-in-law of Samuel Brako also used his
Spiritual gift as an evangelist to preach the word of God to many people in the
Akim Abuakwa area. Elder Yaw Abrokwah who was a singer and a prominent prophet
left his dwelling at Old Tafo in Akim Abuakwa and moved to Osiem so he could
work with Samuel Brako [7]. Elders Emmanuel Obeng, Yaw Dankwa and Kwasi Mensah
Agyapong of Amua also strenuously worked with Samuel Brako in establishing the
branches in the Kwahu area. The Agogo branch of the Church was established
through the pastoral effort of Elders Stephen Atta, Opanin Kone, and
(Acheampong who once served in the Agogo Palace). Elder Abraham Nsia of Asamang
in the Ashanti Region was also instrumental in the growth of the church in the
region.
Women also played
important role in the early years of the Church. Apart from Amonu Gyamfua
(Samuel Brako’s wife), other women who worked tirelessly with the men included
Akua Moomo (a sister to Amonu Gyamfua), Maame Akua Esua, Maame Dansoa, Maame
Afua Hum, Maame Yaa Henewaa and Maame Afia Ansah (a singer and a
direct sister of Opanin Issac Asirifi).
Samuel Brako, the Krofas
and their co-workers laboured day and night to bring the gospel of our Lord
Jesus Christ to countless others. They preached the gospel to the people of
Osiem and the surrounding villages including Old Tafo and Kukurantumi telling
them to refrain from alcohol, adultery, adulatory, fornication, theft, and
anything that corrupts the body. Brako entreated his followers to pay special
attention to holiness, righteous, spiritual growth, fasting, prayers, love and
charity.
God filled Samuel Brako
with his power (Holy Spirit) and he performed many miracles
including one that caused almost the entire Agogo community in Ashanti to
convert to Gyidi. Through the healing power of the Holy Spirit the sick were
healed, demons were cast, and many souls were saved from the destruction of
alcohol. Because of the presence of the Holy Spirit in their midst members
hardly ever got sick and hardly visited the hospital. Indeed, the gospel
message preached by Samuel Brako and his lieutenants was so much backed by the
total power of the Holy Spirit so much so that it earned them the Akan phrase
“kyiri bentoa” which translates as people who have no need for physicians.
People feared to sin because as soon as the sin was committed the Holy Spirit
would reveal it to the prophets who in turn inform the leaders. The prophets
spent most of their time interceding on behalf of the members. No one was paid
for doing their job. Founder Samuel Brako preached to members to be content
with what they always have.
Under the able leadership
of Samuel Brako the Church spread to other parts of Ghana including Kwahu,
Akuapem, Fante, Asante and Brong Ahafo. Because of lack of transportation
networks most of these places were reached by means of walking. For instance when
moving from Akim to Ashanti, Samuel Brako and his team would take the sleeper
train from Bososo to Boankra and do the remaining journey by foot. In the early
years of the church, it spread mostly through the Akan communities especially
the villages but it soon reached the towns.
Church Doctrine and
Organisation
The Church was founded as
a Spiritual Church and as such God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit are to be
revered. Both the Old and New Testaments of the Bible are recognised as the
main source of scriptural authority on which teachings are based. In other
words, the Church draws heavily from the New Testament and also the Old
Testament. Apart from worshiping and observing the Sabbath on Saturday, Founder
Samuel Brako was instructed by the Holy Spirit to let his followers treat the
meeting place as a holy place in line with God’s encounter with Moses (Exodus
3:5) and Joshua (Joshua 5:15) in which both leaders were instructed to remove
their sandals before approaching God (see also Acts 7:33; Matthew 18:20). As a
result members remove their sandals anytime they come into the presence of God.
Removal of sandals takes place when members attend church, prayer service or in
any other place connected with God. This is in reverence to God [8].
Samuel Brako was
instructed to follow the guidelines established in the Book of the New
Testament regarding who could be ordained a pastor or Bishop. In this regard,
men only would be ordained pastors and bishops, and also to pray at every
religious gathering in accordance with the teachings of the Gospel as found in
1 Timothy 2:8-14 (See the notes below for what these verses say). Through this
instruction, Founder Samuel Brako ordained many men from every part of the then
Gold Coast (now Ghana) to become pastors for the church [9].
New converts must confess
their sins during baptism. Baptism is by total immersion. Both adults and
children could be baptised. In the early years of the church’s founding,
members were not burdened with payments of money such as tithe and weekly
collection. Tithe payment is still prohibited. Weekly collection is still
voluntary. As they are not paid, pastors and deacons must endeavour to work for
their livelihoods and not expect to be paid. Payments in the form of salaries
and allowances were and are still completely discouraged. The Church places
more emphasis on the use of African melodies. Songs are sung in local language
and there is no elaborate use of musical instruments. Water and non-alcoholic
beverages are used during the Holy Communion or Sacrament rather than alcoholic
wine.
The church under Samuel
Brako was organised around four main ministries: The Pastoral Ministry; The
Prophetic Ministry; The Evangelism Ministry; and The Music and Song
Ministration Ministry. These four pillars were not separated but worked in
tandem for the total growth of the Church. (This practice is still noticeable
in True Faith Church and Faith Salvation, though it is less noticeable in
Saviour Church). Each of the Ministry is headed by a person who is full of
faith, wisdom and the Holy Spirit.The Head of the Church (severally called
overseer, superintendent) is divinely appointed through prayers and request
from the LORD Jesus Christ. Until recently (early 1990s) no elaborate titles
(such as bishops, apostles, archbishop) were used for the heads of the various
ministries. The title usually used during the early years of the church was the
Akan word “Opanin” which translates as “Elder”. (Since the early 1990s, True
Faith Church in particular has adopted titles such as bishops, apostles, Senior
Apostles for its leaders).
Women are not to be left
out in the church organisation. They are to be part of the strong Prophetic
Ministry as prophets as well as the Singing and Songs Ministration Ministry.
Sarah Akua Konadu, the daughter of Samuel Brako, Madam Akua Esua, Madam Afia
Ansah were strong singers whose singing abilities attracted many unbelievers to
the Church.
Dress Code
Men and women are to shun
costly apparel and any appearance of the world. Men are to wear long robes
(white robes during Sabbath days and red robes during all other days and
occasions. The robes are to be of the same design. Modesty is emphasised. Women
must cover their head so they can have a good relationship with God, Jesus, the
Holy Spirit and the angels as is instructed in 1 Corinthians 11:2-16; 1 Timothy
2:9; 1 Peter 3:3-6 (see the reference below for what these verses say) [10].
Samuel Brako’s favourite
sermons were “Love”, “Doing Charity”, “Holiness” and “Righteousness”.
Death of Samuel Brako and
Succession
Founder Samuel Brako died
in the mid-1940s. [11]. He left behind a well-established Bible-based and Holy
Spirit-driven Church with branches all the country. He also left behind 10
children (Akua Konadu, Akua Mansah, Kwaku Emmanuel, Akua Afra, Kwaku Sem, Joshua
Adjei Adusei, Yaa Ataa, Yaw Tawiah Moses, Kofi Badu popularly called 13, and
Afua Duku) who continued the good work of their father. According to his son
Joshua Adjei Adusei, he was present when his father anointed an old man by name
Elder Moses Mossi Baanie as his successor. However, Opanin Mossi was old and
enlisted Elder Isaac Kwadwo Asirifi to be his assistant. Elder Moses Mossi
Baanie became less active due to his age and Elder Asirifi (who was very
outspoken) finally replaced him as the leader of the Church. (Elder Asirifi was
not a direct relative of Samuel Brako as is sometimes claimed) but lived with
Samuel Brako as a young man.
There are no known
photographs of Samuel Brako but everyone who saw him acknowledges that his son
Prophet Kwaku Emmanuel was the carbon copy of his dad. In other words, Founder
Brako was tall and slender.
First Schism
However, after the death
of Samuel Brako, disagreement arose between Elder Asirifi on one hand and some
of the leaders especially Elder Emmanuel Obeng, Elder Abraham Nsia of Asaman,
Elder Yaw Dankwa and Elder Mensah of Asuonyunu on the other hand. The disagreement
centred around the Biblical teachings of 1 Timothy 3:2-4 where would-be pastors
are supposed to be husbands of one wife [12].
This text concerns the
qualification of a bishop. It admonishes pastors and church leaders to be
husbands of one wife but Opanin Asirifi had two wives and so the leaders
objected to him becoming the leader of the church and administering communion
or sacrament. The disagreement was not resolved amicably and the Church split
between Opanin Asirifi and the other group during the Convention at Asante
Akyem Obogu. Opanin Isaac Kwadwo Asirifi affectionately called Dadeako later
named his version of Gyidi “The Saviour Church of Ghana” (nkwagyesom) with the
headquarters at Osiem while Elder Obeng and his group called theirs “True Faith
Church of Ghana” (nokware gyidifo) with the headquarters at Kwahu Praso, in
Eastern Region. Elder Yaw Dankwa anointed Elder Emmanuel Obeng as the head of
True Faith Church in 1957 with Prophet Ebenezer Adarkwaa as head of the
Prophetic Ministry. Elder Emmanuel Obeng died in 1966 and Elder Joseph Ampadu
was divinely elected as his successor in 1967.
The two branches continue
to observe the Sabbath but over the years there has been significant changes in
the organisation of the two churches. As mentioned earlier, the church under
Samuel Brako was organised around four main ministries: The Pastoral Ministry;
The Prophetic Ministry; The Evangelism Ministry; and The Music and Song
Ministration Ministry. These four pillars were not separated but worked in
tandem for the total growth of the Church. (This practice is still very
noticeable in True Faith and Faith Salvation, and less noticeable in Saviour
Church). Each of the Ministry is headed by a person who is full of faith,
wisdom and the Holy Spirit. The Head of the Church (severally called overseer,
superintendent) is divinely elected through prayers and request from the LORD
Jesus Christ. Until recently (early 1990s) no elaborate titles (such as
bishops, apostles, archbishop) were used for the heads of the various
ministries. The title usually used during the early years of the church was the
Akan word “Opanin” which translates as “Elder”. (Since the early 1990s, True
Faith Church first adopted the title ”Bishop” for the head of the church. This
was later changed to ”Apostle” and then to ”Senior Apostle”).
Elaborate titles are still absent in Saviour Church.
Since the death of
Asirifi in 1997, the Saviour Church has placed little emphasis on the prophetic
ministry, whereas True Faith continues to regard prophetic ministry as a
critical component of the church in line with the tradition established by
Founder Samuel Brako. Opanin Isaac Kwadwo Asirifi did not let his followers
know that he did not found the church. In fact, many in the Saviour Church
(except the older generation) until recently did not know that Opanin Asirifi
did not found the church. Elder Asirifi worked hard to erase any traces of
Samuel Brako’s name from the church. This however, was not the case in True
Faith Church. The True Faith Church even composed songs celebrating the immense
contribution of the Founder and his elders.
There is one more
significant difference between Saviour Church and True Faith Church regarding
activities they organise every year. The calendar year of True Faith Church is
divided into three: a Synod meeting involving pastors, deacons and church leaders
usually held at the headquarters; prophetic meeting involving all the prophets
is held around August every year; and annual convention which takes place
around 25 December till 1 January of the New Year. The annual convention is
rotated throughout the branches in the country. The Saviour Church also has
synod and annual convention but not prophetic meeting. Meanwhile the annual
convention always takes place at Osiem and nowhere else.
Other Schisms
Both Saviour Church and
True Faith Church have suffered further divisions as a result of leadership and
succession problems. For example when Opanin Asirifi died in 1997 one of his
children by name Mr. Kofi Elia wanted to succeed him (claiming that the church
was founded by his father Asirifi) but Mr. Elia was unsuccessful because the
elders knew his father did not found the church and so made Abraham Kwaku
Adusei, a nephew of Samuel Brako, its new Superintendent or
overseer. Mr. Kofi Elia refused to abide by the dictates of the church
leadership and the matter went to court. Eventually, Mr. Kofi Elia left Osiem
to go and establish his own church at Mankrong Junction and later at Nyanyano
in the Gomoa District of the Central Region. (Since the death of Elder Isaac
Kwadwo Asirifi, the factions of both Kofi Elia and Abraham Adusei have engaged
in violent clashes sometimes involving the use of harmful objects. Millions of
cedis worth of property have been destroyed and the good name of the Church has
been severely tarnished.
The True Faith Church has
suffered more division than the Saviour Church. In the 1980s several leaders in
Ashanti Region including Elder Abraham Nsia of Asante Asamang, Magya Sampson of
Bodomasi near Kumawu, Pastor Thomas of Abrepɔ of Kumasi, and Prophet Emmanuel
Kwaku Adutwum broke away to form Faith Salvation Church and other denominations
such as United Faith Church. Later some of the leadership of Faith Salvation
and United Faith Church rejoined True Faith Church but some of the members
remained to continue to operate as Faith Salvation Church. Faith Salvation has
also suffered divisions to the point that there are different versions of Faith
Salvation including Spiritual Faith Salvation and Reform Faith Salvation.
The True Faith Church
suffered its most devastating schism since the death of Apostle Joseph Ampadu
in late 2000s. Apostle Ampadu who according to historical accounts joined the
Church in 1948, was ordained a pastor in 1952, and headed the Church for more
than three decades. He became the head of the church in 1967. After his death,
succession battle rocked the church. In the past the church had always relied
on God to determine who could be the leader after the death of the incumbent.
Prophet John Owusu Achiaw was the head of the Prophetic Ministry within the
Church. Owusu Achiaw was made the caretaker leader after the death of Ampadu.
As head of the Prophetic Ministry, it was his duty to find out from God who was
the rightful person to succeed Apostle Ampadu. Apostle John Owusu Achiaw
demonstrated his interest to become the new head of the Church.
However, after the death
of Apostle Ampadu, an audio cassette surfaced in which Apostle Ampadu
purportedly nominated Apostle Moses Appah to be his successor. The voice on the
cassette was not questioned. However, the authenticity of the cassette was questioned
since many of the leadership of the church denied knowing anything about the
existence of the cassette. It was thought that Apostle Ampadu was influenced by
some leading members who took advantage of his old age to record the audio in
order to perpetuate the Kwahu hegemony in the Church hierarchy. Since the death
of Samuel Brako and the division of the Church into two, the True Faith Church
has always been led by a Kwahu one of the two dominant tribes that form the
bulk of the Church’s membership. The other dominant tribe is the
Asantes/Ashantis. The Ashantis have been complaining and murmuring about this
Kwahu dominance for a long time and wanted the status quo changed. It is this
background that made the Asantes to raise serious questions about the need for
the cassette [13]. After several meetings majority of the leadership
of the Church agreed for Apostle John Achiaw to become the new leader. But
Apostle Moses Appah’s faction disagreed and finally took the matter to Court.
Eventually, Moses Appah and his faction lost the court battle and proceeded to
breakaway to form the True Faith Evangelical Church. The Church was therefore
split on tribal lines with the bulk of Kwahu backing Apostle Appah and Asantes
supporting Apostle Owusu Achiaw. Since the death of Apostle Ampadu more
division has taken place. True Faith of Love headed by Apostle Mensah together
with Precious New True Faith Church International headed by Apostle Daniel
Adjei came into being. In 2019, Precious New True Faith further split into two.
The Saviour Church, True
Faith and Faith Salvation continue to experience litigations which have
seriously undermined the good work of Samuel Brako. Indeed, nobody ever thought
that Gyidi Asɔre or Memeneda Kɔkɔɔ as the Church is known in the Akan language
throughout Ghana could be associated with such litigations and disputes [14].
The Ghanaian media have extensively covered these litigations and leadership
succession struggles that have come to be associated with the once glorious
Church.
Membership
The many break ups have
given rise to the phrase “Brako Faiths” which is a term used to refer to all
the denominations that trace their origin and heritage to the Founder.
Membership of the Brako Faiths are more than 100,000 worldwide. According to
Baeta (1962:66) in 1954 Saviour Church had about 3,421 members, however by the
early 1960s the figure had more than doubled to 7000 found in 83 branches. In
1995, the Missionary Atlas Project (MAP) put both members and
affiliate members of Saviour Church to 31,800 found in 257 branches. In 2014,
the leader of the Church at Osiem said the church membership was 100,000 of
which 80 percent were into farming. The figure for True Faith Church in 1995
was 50,600 with 183 branches (MAP, 2005:23) [14]. From the 1990s onwards,
particularly under the leadership of Elder Joseph Ampadu, the True Faith Church
established several branches throughout the world especially in Europe and
North America. Today, it has branches in Canada, France, Germany, Holland,
Italy, the United Kingdom and the United States of America.
The Saviour Church under
the leadership of Abraham Kwaku Adusei has embarked on several socio-economic
infrastructure projects particularly at Osiem where it is headquartered. It has
built a major clinic (Hawa Memorial Saviour Church Hospital) that serves Osiem
and its environs. The clinic has facilities such as Maternity, Orthopaedic,
X-Ray, Scan, Pharmacy, Out-Patient Department and Laboratory and other units.
It has also established a nursing training school at Osiem (Saviour Church
Nursing and Midwifery Training College (SCNMTC), and has a functioning
secondary school that serves not only its members but the entire Osiem
community and its environs. The church has 12 basic schools throughout the
country. The Church has also connected every home in its catchment area at
Osiem with pipe borne water. During the time of the late Elder Isaac Asirifi
the Osiem community enjoyed electricity and this has continued under Abraham K.
Adusei [16].
The Akan phrases such as
‘Memeneda som’ (Sabbath worship), ‘Memeneda Gyidifo’ (Sabbath Believers),
‘Memeneda Kɔkɔɔ’ (Sabbath Observers who wear red robes), ‘Nkwagyesom’ (Saviour
Church), ‘Nokware Gyidi’ (True Faith) are all names associated with the Church.
Written by Lord Aikins
Adusei. Adusei is a great grandson of Samuel Brako. Adusei holds BSc degree
from Kwame University of Science and Technology (KNUST, Kumasi-Ghana), MSc
degree from Stockholm University (Stockholm, Sweden), another MSc degree from
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (Uppsala), and is a PhD candidate
in the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London,
London in the United Kingdom. Adusei is worried about the disintegration and
destruction of the church his grandfather founded and is mounting campaign
reverse the decline of the Church [17].
Copyright: No part of
this account can be distributed, copied, edited without the authorisation of
the author.
Notes
[1] Addo-Fening, R. 1973.
The Background to the Deportation of King Asafo Agyei and the Foundation of New
Dwaben. Transactions of the Historical Society of Ghana, Vol. 14, No. 2, pp.
213-228
[2] SDA was only
established at Osiem in 1935 after the talks in 1934 failed. True Faith
Church takes their year of foundation from 1914 whereas Saviour Church takes
the year of foundation from 1924, the year Sabbath was fully
recognised. This explains why True Faith Church celebrated 100 Years
Anniversary in 2014 while Saviour Church celebrated 90thAnniversary in the same
year.
[3] Swanzy, H. 1956. A
Trading Family in the Nineteenth Century Gold Coast. Transactions of the Gold
Coast & Togoland Historical Society, Vol. 2, No. 2, pp. 87-120;
Southall, R. J. 1978. Farmers, Traders and Brokers in the Gold Coast Cocoa
Economy. Canadian Journal of African Studies, Vol. 12, No. 2, pp. 185-211
[4] Sampson Krofa was a
powerful evangelist/prophet who was gifted with the power of healing and was
used by the LORD tremendously. Sampson Krofa played instrumental role in
establishing the branches at Kukuom, and Techimantia among others.
[5] Pastor Appiah Dankwa,
John Kwasi Owusu Atobra, Edward Krofa along with Eshun Mensah were the most
educated members of the church at the time. Atobra who was a
hunter for the King of Juaben also helped to found the village
called kurofrom near Nkyiripuaso. Eshun Mensah married the daughter of Opanin
Kwaku Sem of Osiem. Mensah is credited with bringing Gyidi to Besease, and
Nkawkaw in Kwahu.
[6] Eshun Mensah (a
former pupil teacher) was responsible for the songs that the True Faith Church
continues to use today. Saviour Church used to use the same songs until it
changed it in the 1970s by adding other instruments rather than bells. The
changes in Saviour were made by Opanin Kwabena Nti.
[7] Edward Krofa married
Maame Akua Esua (sister to Brako’s wife Amonu Gyamfua). Maame Afia Ansah was a
singer and direct sister of Opanin Issac Asirifi. Saviour Church used to use
the same songs until it changed it in the 1970s by adding other instruments
rather than bells. The changes were made by Opanin Kwabena Nti who introduced
the style of music and songs in Saviour Church. He also introduced the concept
of Boysco, Girlsco and Womensco in Saviour Church in the 1970s.
[8] Exodus 3:5 “And he
said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place
whereon thou standest is holy ground.” Joshua 5:15 “And the captain of the
LORD'S host said unto Joshua, Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place
whereon thou standest is holy. And Joshua did so.” Matthew 18:20 “For where two
or three [people] are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of
them”.
[9] 1 Timothy 2:8-14 vs
8) “I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without
wrath and doubting. 9) But (which becometh women professing godliness) with
good works. 11) Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. 12) But I
suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in
silence. 13) For Adam was first formed, then Eve. 14) And Adam was
not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression”).
[10] 1 Corinthians
11:4-10 vs 4) Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered,
dishonoureth his head. 5) But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her
head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were
shaven. 6) For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be
a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered. 7) For a man
indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of
God: but the woman is the glory of the man. 8) For the man is not of the woman;
but the woman of the man. 9) Neither was the man created for the woman; but the
woman for the man. 10) For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head
because of the angels”. 1 Timothy 2:9 “In like manner also, that
women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not
with braided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array”. 1 Peter 3:3-6 vs 3)
“Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of
wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; 4) But let it be the hidden man
of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and
quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. 5) For after this
manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned
themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands.”
[11] Baeta, C. G. 1962.
Prophetism in Ghana: A Study of some ‘Spiritual’ churches. London, S.C.M.
Press; Nortey, J. J. 1989. Independent African Churches—Are They Genuinely
Christian? Adventist Spectrum, Vol. 20, No. 2, p. 29-37
[12] 1 Timothy 3:2-4 KJV
[2] “A bishop then must be blameless, the HUSBAND OF ONE WIFE,
vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; [3] Not
given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler,
not covetous; [4] One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in
subjection with all gravity”.
[13] Some of the schism
happened in the 1980s because of this perceived dominance of the Church
leadership by Kwahu.
[14] Gyidi Asɔre
(translates as Faith Church). Memeneda Kɔkɔɔ (translates as Sabbath observers
who wear red robes).
[15] Baeta, C. G. 1962.
Prophetism in Ghana: A Study of some ‘Spiritual’ churches. London, S.C.M.
Press; Missionary Atlas Project (MAP). Ghana, West Africa Snapshots Section.
http://www.worldmap.org/uploads/9/3/4/4/9344303/ghana_profile.pdf (accessed 28/02/2020)
[16] Ghana Today. 2014.
Saviour Church of Ghana is 90 years. 27 February 2014. https://www.todaygh.com/saviour-church-ghana-90-years/ (accessed
28 February 2020).
[17] To cite: L. A.
Adusei. 2020. Samuel K. Brako: Founder of The Saviour Church of Ghana &
True Faith Church of Ghana (aka Gyidi Asɔre).
*All Bible quotations are
from the King James Version of the Bible.
Great work.
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