BISHOP'S CONFERENCE OF GHANA REPORT: From Steve Kakrabah-Quarshie, Nsuta
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A multi billion cedis Diocesan Formation and Counselling Centre, was recently dedicated at Nsuta in the Jasikan Diocese by Most Rev. George Kocherry, Apostolic Nuncio to Ghana.
It was built by the Jasikan Diocese with the support from its partners in Stuttgart in Germany, and would serve as an Advisory and Research Centre.
The dedication ceremony formed part of the Nuncio’s three-day Pastoral visit to the Diocese, which also took him to Nkwanta and New Ayoma.
Present were Rev. Msgr. Leonard Hope Homeku, Vicar General of the Keta-Akatsi Diocese and Rev. Msgr. Francis Twum Barimah, Vicar General of Koforidua, who represented their Bishops.
Also present were Mr. Solomon K. Donkor, Jasikan District Chief Executive, Chiefs and the various organisations and societies in the Church.
Addressing the gathering, Archbishop Kocherry said the Centre should be used to gain Knowledge, Formation, pastoring and Religious Advancement.
He also requested that the Centre be used to training the youth, whom he described as “our treasure for the future.
“Teach your children to live just, honest and sincere life by living these virtues,” he advised.
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He indicated that the way parents live at home reflects on their children, cautioning parents not to quarrel in the presence of their children.
Archbishop Kocherry advised the youth not to imitate foreign cultures, because Ghana has rich cultures and traditions.
The Nuncio later inaugurated a six-member Board of Directors for the Centre, with Sir James Bebako-Mensah, a retired Civil Servant as the Chairman.
Other members are Mrs. Rose Ofedie, Mrs. Henrietta Diop, Dr. Kwaku Adeah, Mrs. Patricia Aniwa and Rev. Fr. Kofi Appiah, Director of the Centre
In his address, Bishop Mante said the opening of the Centre marked another milestone in the Diocese’s history and the cordial relations between the Diocese and St. Maria Parish in Stuttgart, Germany.
He said the Centre has Hope as its motto because of its specific character “which is a challenge to improve relations with God.”
Bishop Mante advised the people to develop the spirit of hope during the time of difficulties, depression and deprivations.
He thanked the German partners for their support in the evangelisation efforts in the Jasikan Diocese.
Rev. Msgr. Herbert Schmucker, Parish Priest of St. Maria, said his Parish was glad to be part of the project.
Most Rev. Francis Lodonu, Bishop of Ho, congratulated Bishop Mante and the people of the Diocese for building the Centre.
According to him, the Volta Region was first evangelised by the Germans and have therefore become the Region’s greatest partners.
He called on chiefs in the area to release more land to the Diocese for development projects.
Nana Siaw V, Chief of Nsuta, said the Centre be put at the disposal of the youth, who need formation and skills, stating that many people have “fallen by the way side” because of improper counselling.
Nana Siaw suggested that the Centre be made a campus of the Catholic University College of Ghana at Fiapre.
Addressing the students of the Fr. Dogli Memorial Trades School at New Ayoma, Archbishop Kocherry said the Catholic Church “pays particular attention to human development and that is why it has opened many schools”
He asked the students to develop themselves through the acquisition of skills, be disciplined and honest.
The Nuncio said Catholic Schools have fame which should not be soiled.
The Principal of the School, Rev. Msgr. Daniel Buor, said the School which opened in 1997 with 32 students and five teachers, now has 150 students and 25 teachers.
He said so far, the School has had about ¢1.9 billion from Misereor, a German donor agency.
Msgr. Buor appealed for books for their library and a means of transportation.
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