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SHORT PROFILE OF THE DIOCESE OF WIAWSO Flipbook PDF
SHORT PROFILE OF THE DIOCESE OF WIAWSO 1. PREAMBLE The Diocese of Wiawso, the 9th and the newest Diocese in Ghana was ca
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SHORT PROFILE OF THE DIOCESE OF WIAWSO 1. PREAMBLE The Diocese of Wiawso, the 9th and the newest Diocese in Ghana was carved out from the Diocese of Sekondi of the Western Region. The Diocese was inaugurated on Saturday, 18th February, 2006 and the Consecration and Enthronement of the first Bishop of the Diocese in the person of the Rt. Rev. Abraham K. Ackah took place on the 10th and 11th June, 2006 respectively. The carving out of Wiawso Diocese was the vision of the first Bishop of Sekondi Rt. Rev. T. S. A. Annobil during a Synod which was held in 1991. He informed Synod even at that time that the work load in the Diocese was too much for a single Bishop to manage. He thus paved the way for the carving out of Wiawso from that vast area of his jurisdiction. 2.
GEOGRAPHY, DEMOGRAPHY AND CHURCH STRENGTH
The Sefwi area is co-terminus with the five political districts of a. b. c. d. e.
Bibiani/anhwiaso/Bekwai Sefwi Wiawso Juaboso Bia Akontombra
Presently, the Parishes of the Diocese number 20 from Four Archdeaconries and the Cathedral. It consists of 70 Congregations with the total membership of over 15,000. 3.
CLERGY STATISTICS
Priests Ordinands in Seminary Bishop Catechists 4.
25 5 1 50
OTHER DENOMINATIONS WITHIN THE AREA
Roman Catholics Methodists Presbyterians Several Pentecostals and Charismatic Churches 5.
NUMBER OF SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES
The number of Anglican Schools in the Wiawso Diocese including one Teacher’s Training College which is situated at Sefwi Wiawso is as follows: The Diocese is seeking financial assistance to put up a Senior High School for the church and community.
LEVEL
PRE-SCHOOL PRIMARY JUNIOR HIGH COLLEGE EDUCATION
NO OF SCHOOLS
ENROLMENT
44 43 15
BOYS 2144 3784 868
GIRLS 2178 3634 753
TOTAL 4322 7418 1621
102
6796
6565
13261
OF
6. CLINICS There are three small clinics situated at Bodi, Boinzan, and Subiri. Plans are advanced to establish two more at Elluokrom and Ahokwaa and to develop the Bodi clinic into a hospital. Any assistance to develop this sector will also be appreciated. 7. STRENGTHS Besides the clinics, the Diocese can boast of large parcels of land which will be good for the cultivation of crops like cocoa, oil-palm, corn, cassava citus fruits etc. efforts are being made to find some capital to begin work on the farms in a large scale. Meanwhile, a Diocesan Agricultural Officer has been appointed to be in charge of the farms. 8. CHALLENGES The Diocese is situated in the forest region of Ghana. The inhabitants are rural dwellers and basically subsistent farmers. A few of them have small cocoa farms. As a result, majority of the people are relatively poor. Their contribution in terms of money is comparatively small. The new Diocese is faced with several challenges that include the following: -
-
Church Expansion: The area is vast and virgin. There is the need to do serious evangelism, establish more congregations and schools. Training and Retraining: There is the need to train and retrain more Priests, Catechists and Evangelists, to minister to the people. Provision of Water and Sanitation: In many areas treated water is absent. The Church is called upon to provide boreholes and Hang-Dug wells for the communities. To provide at least a well-organized multi-purpose Vocational/Technical Institution for the several Junior High Schools graduates and drop outs. To establish multi-purpose farms to produce cocoa, oil-palm and other cash crops to support Diocesan programmes. To provide vehicles (Cars for Bishop, Priests and Motor Bikes for Catechists and Evangelist) for effective Pastoral work. To provide a permanent residence (Bishop’s Court) for the Bishop. To provide the Diocese with permanent offices for the Bishop and Diocesan staff.
-
To put up a Retreat and Prayer centre for the Diocese. To find assistance to absorb salaries for Bishop and Clergy.
It is therefore our wish to seek partnership as wide as possible in the world wide Anglican Communion. The Sefwi area in which the Diocese is situated, as already re-iterated is poor in terms of infrastructure, social amenities like quality health care, educational facilities and the utilities. Unfortunately, the process for the establishment of the New Diocese of Wiawso did not have the fortune of any financial support from any quarters and had to shoulder the solution of the myriad problems unaided. Accordingly, the way forward demands an all-round short-to-medium-term development of the Diocese to make the message of God more meaningful to our rural people. We would sincerely appreciate if you could find time to visit us at your earliest convenience to enable you have personal experience of the Diocese. 9.
CONCLUSION
It is gratifying to note that the Diocese of Wiawso has a bright future. Even though majority of the parishioners are either peasant farmers, or low income earners they are very enthusiastic and proud of their Church. They are always eager to contribute their best however small to support, especially evangelism work in the Diocese. They would love to receive you into their fold at your earliest convenience. Please, continue to pray for us and let us hear favourably from you. LIST OF PARISHES AND CLERGY 1.
1.
2.
THE CATHEDRAL CHURCH OF ASCENSION, SEFWI- WIAWSO, The Cathedral church has three priests: The Very Rev. Isaac Yaw Gaisey - Dean Rev. Canon Samuel B Ghartey - Precentor Rev. Canon Orah - Priest Assisting The Cathedral is situated at Sefwi Wiawso which is the capital of the district. It has one additional station. THE ARCHDEACONRY OF WIAWSO ST. PETERS KESEKROM is situated within the Sefwi Wiawso Metropolis with five outstations. It serves as the seat of the Archdeaconry. The parish priest is The Rev. Fr. Thomas Adjei Benyin. ST, ANDREWS DWINASE is also within the Wiawso Metropolis. It is a commercial and a market centre. St. Andrew’s has three stations and is preparing to open more. It’s a new parish but very serious with evangelism. The parish priest is The Rev. Fr. Benard Chinbuah.
3.
CORPUS CHRISTI, ANHWIAM. Anhwiam is two miles away from Sefwi Wiawso. It’s the oldest church in the diocese with nine stations. Plans are far advanced to divide the parish into two. Rev. Fr. Lawrence Kwao Donkor is the parish priest.
4.
ST PAULS NSAWORA. St. Paul’s with six stations are being carved out of the Corpus Christi parish. The date of inauguration will be announced as soon as their accommodation is ready. Nsawora is a big market centre and the church has a bright future. BIBIANI ARCHDEACONRY
5.
CHRIST THE KING BIBIANI. The church at Bibiani is one of the oldest in the diocese. Situated in a Gold mining centre, it serves as the seat of the Archdeaconry the parish priest is The Ven. Alfred Asante Agyemang has oversight of six parishes.
6.
ST. MATTHEWS, FAHIAKOBO. ST Matthews is four miles from Bibiani. It is situated in the middle of several farming communities. As anew parish St Matthews has five stations and has the potential to open more. The parish priest is the Rev. Fr. Gabriel Sampson.
7.
ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST. SEFWI- ANHWIASO. St. John’s has five stations. It is a farming town some twelve miles from Bibiani on the Kumasi highway. They intend opening more stations. The parish priest is The Rev. Fr. John Attobrah Hanson.
8.
ST. MARKS SUBIRI. St. Marks is also a centre of several farming villages within the Bibiani Archdeaconry. It has five stations. The diocese has placed a clinic in the village to take care of the numerous rural dwellers in the area. The parish priest is The Rev. Fr. Bismark Arkaah Kintoh.
9.
ST MATTHEWS, SEFWI- AWASO. One of the oldest parishes in the diocese. Awaso is a Bauxite mining town. The church is a flourishing one and has a remarkable history. It has five stations
10.
ST. ANDREWS, SEFWI- BEKWAI. St Andrews has five stations. Sefwi- Bekwai is a commercial centre and well positioned at a crossroad which links all the important towns in the district. It is also a market centre with five stations. The parish priest is The Rev. Fr. William Ohene Solomon.
11.
ARCHDEACONRY OF BODI ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST, SEFWI- BODI. St. John’s is the church with the largest congregation in the diocese with membership of over a thousand excluding children. It is situated in the middle of the tropical rain forest and the centre of the largest cocoa growing communities. The diocese has built a clinic in this town to cater for the thousands of farmers in the area. The diocese is seriously looking for support to expand the clinic into a hospital. The parish priest and archdeacon is The Ven. Thomas Obeng Bempong.
12.
ST. MATTHEW’S, ATTABOKA. Attaboka is a farming village near Bodi with four stations. Though a new parish St. Matthew’s has a bright future. They are preparing to open more stations. The parish priest is the Rev. Fr. John Chindah.
13.
ST. PHILLIP’S, SUIANO. SUIANO is also a small town within the Bodi Archdeaconry. It has four stations are trying to open more. The parish priest is the Rev. Fr. Tawiah. This parish also has a bright future.
14.
ST. JAMES, AKONTOMBRA. Besides St. John’s Bodi, St James ranks as the fastest growing churches in the diocese. Akontombra is a political capital and the centre of commerce with a big cocoa industry. The church has five stations. The parish priest is the Rev. Fr. Godfred Acheampong. ARCHDEACONRY OF ASANWINSO
15.
ST. MATTHEW’S ASANWINSO. Asanwinso is the seat of the archdeaconry. It is a commercial town. It has two stations and have started to open more. The parish priest and acting Archdeacon is The Rev. Fr. Obinna Otwulor.
16.
ALL SAINTS BOINZAN. This church, the oldest in the archdeaconry is a big farming village with four stations. It leads in the production of cocoa within the district. Again the diocese has built a clinic to cater for the several surrounding villages. The parish priest is The Rev. Fr. Isaac Nkrumah.
17.
ST. ANDREW’S JUABOSO. Juaboso is a political capital in Juaboso district. Even though a new church the parish has been strategically placed. The parish has five stations to support the mother church. The parish priest is The Rev. Fr. Andy Noyellum.
18.
ST BENCHEMA. The parish of St. Mark’s is situated in the middle of the highway which leads to the Republic of Ivory Coast. It is a centre of the cocoa industry in the area. It has six stations and has the ability to spread even more. The parish priest is the Rev. Fr. Richard Andoh.
19.
THE MISSIONARY PARISH OF ESSAM. This is the newest parish in the diocese. It is strategically planted to open the way to the Ivory Coast which is only ten miles away. The diocese has plans to open churches in the Ivory Coast and this church will serve as a spring board. The church is fast growing under the able leadership of the Rev. Fr. Gabriel Opoku Ware
OTHER CLERGY 1 Ven. Frank Derrick Amoah - On study leave 2 Ven. Daniel Bosompem - On sick leave 3 Rev. Canon Oppong Kyekyeku, Chaplain to the Wiawso Anglican College of Education acting Archdeacon of Wiawso 4 Rev. Obiri Yeboah Dumadu to be posted
5 6.
Rev. Joseph Aidoo yet to be posted Three Deacons in the seminary
DIOCESAN OFFICE Diocese Office P. O. Box 4 Sefwi Wiawso Western Region - Ghana [email protected] The Rt. Rev. Abraham Kobina Ackah Bishop of Wiawso [email protected]
233-(0)208161826 233-(0)244924464 233-(0)274005952
Mr. Eben Sedziafa Diocesan/Synod Secretary
233(0)276965987
Miss. Cecilia Duku Mensah Administrative Assistant
233(0)243080820 233(0)278304080
DIOCESAN OFFICIALS Diocesan Registrar Mr. Kwesi Minta-Benyin Diocesan Finance Board Chairman Joe Wiafe Diocesan Treasurer Mr. Stephen Kyem Diocesan Medical Advisor Dr. Sam Nkrumah Assistant Medical Advisor Mr. Kwame Nyame CATHEDRAL OFFICE P. O. Box 4 Sefwi Wiawso Western Region - Ghana Office of the Dean The Very Rev. Isaac Yaw Gaisey Dean
233(0)274325001 233(0)241333139
Canon Samuel B.Ghartey Precentor [email protected]
233(0)242656309 233(0)273358314
Canon Basil Orah Priest assisting [email protected]
233(0)206524730
ARCHDEACONRIES Wiawso Archdeaconry The Rev. Canon Noah Oppong Kyekyeku 233(0)243865651 Acting Archdeacon of Wiawso and Chaplain to Wiawso College of Education and other Schools Rev. Fr. Lawrence K. Donkor Parish Priest Corpus Christi - Anhwiam C/o Box 4, Sefwi Wiawso Rev. Fr. Thomas Adjei Benyin Parish Priest St. Peter’s - Kesekrom C/o Box 4 Sefwi Wiawso [email protected]
233(0)243206220
Rev. Fr. Benard Chinbuah Parish Priest St. Andrews’s - Dwinase C/o Box 4, Sefwi Wiawso
233(0)243631201
Ven. Frank D. Amoah On study leave (University of Education [email protected]
233(0)244852885
BIBIANI ARCHDEACONRY Ven. Godfred Acheampong Archdeacon of Bibiani Parish Priest Christ the King Box 82, Bibiani Parish Priest - Vacant St. Matthew’s - Awaso Box 14, Sefwi Awaso
233(0)242043669
Rev. Fr. John Atobra Hanson Parish Priest St. Matthew’s - Anhwiaso C/O Box 4, Sefwi Wiawso
233(0)242531850
Rev. Fr. Bismark Ackaah-Kintoh Parish Priest St. Mark’s - Subiri Box 4 Sefwi Wiawso [email protected]
233(0)244970142
Rev. Fr. Solomon Ohene Williams Parish Priest St. Andrew’s - Bekwai
233(0)242214975
Rev. Fr. Gabriel A.K. Sampson Parish Priest St. Matthew’s - Fahiakobo C/o Box 82, Bibiani
233(0)274917040
BODI ARCHDEACONRY Ven. Thomas Obeng Bempong Archdeacon of Bodi Parish Priest, St. John the Baptist C/o Box 4, Sefwi Wiawso
233(0)0244116420
Rev. Fr. Godfred Acheampong Parish Priest St. James, Akontombra C/o P.O. 4, Sefwi Wiawso
233(0)242043669
Rev. Fr. Victor Tawiah Parish Priest St. Philip’s – Suiano C/O Box 4, Sefwi Wiawso Rev. Fr. John Chinda Parish Priest St. Matthew’s - Ataboka C/O Box 4, Sefwi Wiawso
233(0)248624672
ASAWINSO ARCHDEACONRY Rev. Fr. Obinna Ochulor Acting Archdeacon of Asawinso
233(0)248590594
Parish Priest, St. Matthew’s, Asawinso C/O Box 4, Sefwi Wiawso Rev. Fr. Ignatius Adinike Nonyelum Parish Priest St. Andrews - Juaboso C/O Box 4, Sefwi Wiawso
233(0)248641870
Rev. Fr. Richard Andoh Parish Priest St. Mark’s - Benchema C/O Bo 4, Sefwi Wiawso Rev. Fr. Isaac Nkurmah Parish Priest All Saints - Boinzan C/O Box 4, Sefwi Wiawso
233(0)275641762
233(0)242233590
Rev. Fr. Gabriel Opoku Ware Missionary Parish Priest Essem/Debiso C/O P.O. Box 4, Sefwi Wiawso
233(0)249912553
Rev. Benjamin Aidoo St. Nicholas Seminary Box A.162 Cape Coast
233(0)2421447549
Rev. Joseph Obiri Yeboah Dumadu St. Nicholas Seminary Box A.162 Cape Coast LIST OF COMMISSARIES Rev. Canon Vincent Abisi Ackaah 100 Elgar Place APT 26 M Bronx , NY10475 E-mail: [email protected]
001-718-702-9720
Rev. Canon Dr. Williamson S. Taylor Canon for Congregational Development Episcopal Diocese of New York 1049 Amsterdam Avenue New York , NY 10025 E-mail: [email protected]
001-646-441-0553
Rev. Canon Dr. Giles Fraser St. Mary’s Church Putney, London SW 15/SN E-mail: [email protected]
44(0)781-144-4011
Rev. Canon Simon Evans St. Martins Church Ruislip, London E-mail [email protected]
44(0)-189-563-3040
Rev. Canon Christopher Cook St. Agnes’ Vicarage 1 Buckingham Avenue Liverpool L17 3BA England E-mail: [email protected] Rev. Canon Lloyd Anthony St. Joseph’s Episcopal Church 217-55 100th Avenue Queens Village, NY 11429 E-mail: [email protected]
001-917-992-1084
Rev. Canon Sylvester O. Taylor St. Barnabas Episcopal Church Brooklyn, New York E-mail: [email protected]
001-718-781-7097
Rev. Canon James E. Byrum MD, Iovino Family Foundation 26-15 Ulmer Street College Point, NY 11354 E-mail: [email protected]
001-718-554-2961
LAY COMMISSARIES H. E. Dr. Nick Westcott British High Commissioner Osu Link Gamel Abdul Nasser AV P. O. Box 296 , Accra E-mail: [email protected]
233(0)-2121-3250
Sir Chief Polycarp Ndouteng Managing Director Panef Services Ent. ( Nigeria ) 1 Farm Road Rumuaghorlu
234-084-198-578
New Layout, Off Shell Pipe Line Rumuaghorlu’ Town Port Harcourt, Rivers State E-mail: [email protected] Mr. Michael Lovino Judlau Contracting Inc. 26-15 Ulmer St . College Point , NY 11354 E-mail: [email protected]
001-718-554-2313