The first English-Twi Bible has been launched at a special ceremony at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi. The 549-page New Testament Bible translated from English into Twi by 12 Ghanaians with sponsorship from a Russian businessman has the English and Twi versions on the same page.

The translators were: Most Rev. Dr Peter Kwasi Sarpong, Msgr Stephen Ntim, Rev. Fr Wiafe Akenten, Rev. Fr John Amankwah, Rev. Msgr Anthony Mary Amponsah-Poku, Rev. Fr Dennis Barima, and Rev. Fr Patrick Baffour-Akoto.

The rest are: Mr Francis Ofori, Mr Fredrick Aidoo, Mr Dominic Adu-Mensah, Mr John Konadu-Sarkodie and Mr James Kankam-Buadu.

Launching the Bible at the Manhyia Palace, the Archbishop of the Catholic Church, Kumasi Diocese, the Most Rev. Gabriel Justice Yaw Anokye, said the provision of Asante Twi alongside English Language was aimed at helping the readers to appreciate the importance of the word of God in the lives of everyone.

He commended the authors and other stakeholders who contributed in diverse ways to ensure the success of the project and pledged the Catholic Church’s determination to invest in activities that could enhance the development of the people.

Most Rev. Anokye also said the new Bible would help people to easily understand the content of the Bible and benefit from it.

The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, who was the guest of honour at the launch, praised the Catholic Church for its foresight in coming out with the Bible, which he said, would be beneficial to many people.

He said apart from helping to propagate the word of God, it would also prevent the misinterpretation of the Bible which sometimes led to some pastors throwing dust into the eyes of the general public.

Mr Sergei Lushchenko, the Russian investor, for his part, said his desire to sponsor the project stemmed from the fact that he wanted everybody to have easy access to God’s word.

He said 5,000 copies of the new Bible would be distributed freely in schools across the country for a start, to ensure that schoolchildren got access to the Bible, which would influence their character.

The Russian investor mentioned some ongoing projects as the development of Children’s Bible with many pictures to attract them and help them to easily understand what they read.

Among the dignitaries who attended the ceremony were the Most Rev. Dr Peter Kwasi Sarpong, the Emeritus Catholic Archbishop of Kumasi; the clergy and laity.

The church presented copies of the new Bible to the Asantehene and other dignitaries present at the Manhyia Palace.

Source: Daily Graphic