DCE Vows Upright Leadership as Shai Osudoku Observes National Thanksgiving with Prayer and Unity

The District Chief Executive (DCE) for Shai Osudoku, Ignatius Godfred Dodoe, has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to pursuing development through upright leadership, as a form of true gratitude to God. Speaking at the National Thanksgiving Day celebration in Dodowa, the DCE said the district can no longer afford to lag behind in development.

According to Mr. Dodoe, “We cannot choose to fail our forefathers who toiled and fought for the nation to come this far.”

He stressed that public service must be grounded in integrity, and added that gratitude to God should go beyond ceremonial celebrations to be seen in governance and actions that improve people’s lives.

This marked his first public engagement since assuming office, and he used the occasion to thank the people of Shai Osudoku for their support and trust. He pledged to work in partnership with traditional leaders, faith groups, and development actors to transform the district.

Twin Thanksgiving Services Held in Dodowa and Asutsuari

As part of the national observance, the Shai Osudoku District organized simultaneous thanksgiving services in both Dodowa and Asutsuari to allow full participation from the two main traditional areas of the district.

At Asutsuare, the event drew together members of the Christian and Muslim communities in a rare show of religious harmony. The joint service featured prayers, dancing, worship, and songs of thanksgiving, as participants reflected on the blessings of the past year and prayed for peace and development.

Delivering the sermon, the District Pastor of the Apostolic Church, Rev. James Ekow Ensan, admonished political leaders and government appointees to express their gratitude to God through their conduct and stewardship.

“Gratitude must not end with lip service or symbolic events. It must be seen in the way we serve our people. That is how we honor God with our leadership,” Rev. Ensan declared.

Assemblyman and Local Leaders Applaud Unity

The Assemblyman for the Asutsuari Electoral Area, Jonathan Kwabena, praised the gathering for its strong display of unity, saying such collaboration is crucial for community cohesion and development.

“Seeing Christians and Muslims worship and pray together gives me great hope for the future of our district,” he said.

The Presiding Member of the Shai Osudoku District Assembly also commended the spirit of patriotism displayed at both venues, expressing optimism that such unity of purpose would support efforts to improve the district’s socio-economic indicators.

The event at Asutsuari concluded with a powerful interfaith prayer session led by the Chief Imam, who invoked divine blessings upon the district and the entire country, calling for peace, wisdom, and progress.

The 2025 National Thanksgiving Day celebration in Shai Osudoku was marked not by pomp or pageantry, but by solemn worship, communal prayer, and a renewed resolve to transform words of gratitude into meaningful acts of service.