On the evening of January 2, 2026, the road leading to First Love Church at East Legon told its own quiet story long before worship began. From Shiashie through to the church’s expansive frontage, traffic slowed into a measured procession.
Headlights stretched into the dusk like glowing beads on a string, illuminating faces marked not by agitation or excitement, but by reflection. This was not the familiar urgency of a political rally. It was the deliberate movement of people drawn by conviction.
Passersby paused. Conversations softened. There was an unmistakable sense that something different was unfolding; something that demanded attention without demanding noise.
A Monument of Modern Faith
Rising prominently against the Accra skyline, the First Love Church complex stood in solemn grandeur. Bold, modern, and commanding, the structure projected both architectural confidence and spiritual purpose.
The main auditorium—capable of seating about 7,000 people—was fully illuminated, its exterior radiating warmth into the night. The building itself made a statement before a single word was spoken: this was a space designed for moments that matter.
Where Excellence Meets Reverence
Inside the auditorium, excellence met intention. The hall revealed a seamless fusion of advanced technology and disciplined simplicity. High-definition electronic screens framed the sanctuary with clarity. Precision lighting enhanced focus without spectacle. The acoustics carried every note, every word, and every pause with remarkable purity.
The electronics did not dominate the experience; they served it. Modern tools bowed quietly to sacred purpose, creating an immersive environment where attention was directed upward rather than outward.
When Heaven Came Down
Then, in a moment many present would later describe in hushed tones, heaven came down.
What unfolded was neither a campaign launch nor a political spectacle cloaked in religious symbolism. It was deliberately and explicitly framed as Ken’s Unity Praise Gathering; a solemn convocation convened by Ken Ohene Agyapong to begin the year in thanksgiving and humility before God.
Present were members of his campaign team, respected chiefs and traditional leaders, delegates, clergy across denominations, youth groups, and ordinary citizens from all walks of life. Titles dissolved. Affiliations softened. For several hours, hierarchy gave way to harmony.
Not Politics, But Prayer
The distinction was unmistakable. There were no slogans echoing through the hall. No policy announcements. No partisan chants.
Instead, voices rose in praise, hymns filled the vast auditorium, and the atmosphere remained anchored in gratitude and reflection. The gathering did not seek to mobilize a base; it sought to unite a people. In an era where political activity often merges seamlessly with spectacle, the restraint on display was striking.
Ken’s Message: Gratitude and Unity
At the heart of the evening was a brief but resonant reflection from Ken Ohene Agyapong. His words were calm, measured, and deeply personal. As the year begins, he said, there is nowhere else to go first but to the sacred place of the Lord.
He thanked God for sustaining him thus far and urged Ghanaians to pray earnestly for national unity, peace, and development.
Notably, he did not speak about Ghana’s economic challenges. There were no references to inflation, unemployment, debt, or fiscal pressures. No critique of governance.
No political framing.
His focus remained singular and deliberate: unity as the catalyst for development. In his view, cohesion must precede progress; without unity, even the most ambitious national visions falter.
Media, Music, a National Moment
The gathering attracted significant media attention. Major television networks, radio stations, digital platforms, and independent bloggers were present, documenting the event as it unfolded.
Their coverage reflected the unusual nature of the evening; a national figure choosing worship over rhetoric at the very start of the year.
Adding further depth to the occasion was the presence of several of Ghana’s most powerful and influential musicians. Their participation elevated the worship experience, not as entertainment, but as devotion.
Voices lent harmony to prayer rather than performance, reinforcing the non-political spirit of the gathering.
A Cross-Section of Ghana United
The diversity within the hall told its own story. Chiefs sat alongside clergy. Youth worshipped beside elders.
Public figures blended into congregational anonymity. In a society often segmented by politics, class, or ideology, the visual symbolism of unity was powerful and unmistakable.
The youth presence was particularly striking. Often portrayed as disengaged or restless, young people filled large sections of the auditorium, participating fully in worship and reflection.
Their attentiveness suggested that the call for unity and purpose was resonating across generations.
A Calm That Spilled Beyond the Walls
Outside the auditorium, the atmosphere mirrored the calm within. Security was discreet yet effective. Conversations were subdued and thoughtful.
Even as the program stretched into the night, there was no rush to leave—only a collective willingness to remain present. Accra continued its rhythm beyond the church grounds, but inside, time appeared briefly suspended.
Leadership Through Restraint
For observers, the contrast between this gathering and the prevailing global political climate was impossible to ignore.
In a world marked by division, confrontation, and relentless noise, the scene at First Love Church offered a counter-narrative.
Here was leadership expressed through restraint. Influence exercised through example. Ambition framed by humility.
Not Destination, But Eginning
Not destination, but eginning.
Importantly, the evening made no claims of instant transformation. There were no promises of immediate solutions or declarations of destiny.
Instead, the gathering positioned itself as a beginning; a deliberate first step into the year grounded in reflection, gratitude, and collective prayer. It was a pause before the journey.
The Lingering Conviction
As the final songs faded and congregants slowly dispersed into the Accra night, the mood remained contemplative.
People exited quietly, some pausing in small groups, others walking alone, deep in thought.
Yet as attendees departed, one powerful notion lingered unmistakably in the air.
Beyond the worship and symbolism, many left with a firm conviction: that Ken Ohene Agyapong is a chosen instrument to transform Ghana, particularly through the long-articulated vision of industrialization; a belief that unity, anchored in faith and purpose, can translate into factories, jobs, and national renewal.
Whether history will ultimately affirm that conviction remains to be seen. But on that January evening, at the threshold of a new year, Ghana paused—long enough to bow its head, lift its voice, and imagine a future shaped not first by contention, but by unity.
The author is the communications director of Ken Agyapong’s Campaign Team.
By Kwaku Amoh-Darteh, Esq.
