INUAGURATION OF THE OFFINSO/ AHENKRO DISTRICT
BY CHIEF PRIEST REV. SHINDO IMAFUKU
21st January 2018
The Offinso/ Ahenkro District inauguration meeting started at around 9:30am after the initial venue for the meeting was changed at Offinso. We had morning Gongyo and Shodai after which, Rev. Imafuku performed the Gojukai Ceremony where five (5) people received Gojukai. Rev. Imafuku, after sansho, congratulated the Offinso/ Ahenkro members for their enormous effort towards the growth of Buddhism in Africa and officially pronounced Offinso/ Ahenkro as a District.
He further explained to members that, it is a new challenge for members to grow in their faith and also spread Buddhism inside and around the environs of Offinso and Ahenkro. He encouraged members to build strong unity based on unity between the priesthood and the Laity in order for us to achieve kosen-rufu. He went on to advise members to see this as an opportunity for them to strengthen their faith and improve in their daily practice.
Rev. Imafuku was at meeting together with Koto, Dr. Kwame Boamah, Nana Tieku Baah (Kanji) and Dr. Kwaku Nyame (Kumasi District Leader).
After Rev. Imafuku’s encouragement, Koto, Dr. Kwame Boamah also gave a brief advice and encouraged them to do a lot of shakubuku in order to grow their district and promote Buddhism across the length and breadth of Offinso and Ahenkro, in the country and Africa at large. He also spoke about the up-coming 20th Anniversary of the Hokkeji Temple and encouraged members to be actively involved, chant a lot of Daimoku and also achieve the shakubuku target for the year.
Mr. Kwadwo Boateng, who is the District Leader, also expressed his greatest appreciation to Chief Priest, the Kanji’s, leaders and all members present for supporting and making Offinso/Ahenkro a District. He further called on the support of all members present, to also involve themselves in every activity that would promote the growth of the District.
After his congratulatory remarks, members were given the chance to ask questions and later followed up with evening Gongyo. We took a commemorative picture and the meeting came to a closure.
