Founder and Senior Pastor of the Fountain Gate Chapel in Bolgatanga has indicated that his ‘dog meat statement’ does not represent his belief and perception about people of the upper regions.
Rev. Eastwood Anaba explained that his decision not to leave the upper east but to establish and grow his church in the region is born out of his love and commitment to the region and its people whom he described as beautiful and innocent people.
“The last thing I would do is to do anything to hurt the upper east region, upper west and northern region of Ghana. I have lived all my life in Bolga. There is a philosophy I have and I tell many of my friends. Am a Christian first, I’m a northern man second. Sometimes even my Ghanaianness; you would have to try hard to see am a Ghanaian but to see I come from the north and am a frafra man, am a Nabdam and I carry it with a lot of pride and dignity and I love my people,” he said in a broadcast monitored by dreamzfmonline.com.
Following an assertion by the revered preacher on the consumption of dog meat and its implications and consequences on persons who eat the meat, Rev. Eastwood came under heavy criticism over claims that persons who consume dog meat look, think and walk like the dog.
However, he has since rendered an apology which has also been widely circulated and accepted by many who took offense over the comments.
“The words were quiet offensive. It was like taking a grenade or a bomb to go and kill something. Later on, looking at it, I could have said what I wanted to say without using those strong words,” he stated.
He further stated that there is a collective effort to develop the upper east region and its people, a strive he has been proud to be part of and would not engage in acts or commentaries that will derail the efforts to build the region.
According to him, his assertion on the consumption of dog meat does not reflect his belief about the people of the north particularly the upper east.
“Those my statement I made about the dog and all that; that is not by belief about my people. If you want me to describe my people [the people of the north] I’ll describe them in three words. They are some of the most beautiful people you can ever meet,” he added.
