HISTORY OF THE ASCENSION CONGREGATION-AFIENYA UNDER THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF GHANA.
The following is an account of the history and the establishment of the Ascension Congregation, located in Afienya.
CHURCH PLANTING
Before1965, there existed a few churches in the Afienya Locality and Presbyterians had no where to fellowship hence they worshipped with the Immanuel Methodist Church. As time went by, the yearning to be able to fellowship the Presbyterian way was kindled and in that year, led by the Late Messrs.G.K Asamoah, E.Y.A Brown, E.K. Degadjor and Madam Naomi Doku, they broke off from the Methodist Church and planted the Presbyterian Church in Afienya.
Their foremost place of worship was the L.A Middle School now the Afienya cluster of schools.
ACQUISITION OF LAND AND CONSTRUCTION OF CHURCH BUILDING
As the baby church grew, they decided to get a permanent place of worship. They therefore decided to get a land in the community and put up a church building. To make this vision a reality, the church delegated a number of presbyters to take up the task.
Thus on Monday 23rd April, 1973 4 elders namely, D.O. Asumang, N.O. Torgbor, E.Y.A.Brown, Mr. Azu and E.M.K. Degadjor, contacted the Chief of Afienya, Nene Afutu Nartey, to negotiate for a parcel of land for building of the chapel.
On Friday, 5th August 1988 the construction of the new chapel begun under the supervision of Caretaker Mr. Torgbor. As a staff of the Youth Leadership and Training Institute, he was able to mobilize his students to work on the project.
INAUGRATION AND COMMISSIONING
By 5thJune 1991, work on the structure was completed and on Sunday, 7th July1991, the congregation moved to their new place of worship with amidst celebration. On that day Catechist N.O.Torgbor was away on a preaching assignment at the Kaajaano Presbyterian Church thus Mr. F.M. Tougan delivered the Message in his stead.
STAFFING
After the planting of the church in 1971, the then Rev. Minister of the Tema Community One Presbyterian Church, the late Rev. J.E.Svanikier, assisted by releasing some of his presbyters to support Messrs. Asamoah and Brown in nursing the baby church. The late D.O. Asumang of Tema Community One Presbyterian Church was then appointed as the first Catechist of the baby church in the same year. In 1973, he handed over to Mr. N.O. Torgbor, who took up the role of Caretaker.
During Mr. Torgbor’s time as Caretaker, he enrolled in a Catechist Program at the Ramseyer Training Center, Abetifi and successfully completed in 1990. After serving the congregation for 18 years (1973-September 1991), he handed over to Mr. F.M. Tougan. In 1999, he was transferred to the Amasaman Presbyterian Church as Catechist.
Caretaker F.M Tougan also served for 6 years and handed over to Catechist Samuel Mensah Kormieteh who was transferred to the Ascension Congregation on the 30th October, 2005.
The Ascension Congregation had as its first tent Minister Rev. Emmanuel O. Tettey on the 16th October, 2005.He was replaced by Rev. Artishia Svanikier on the 27th September 2006. She became the first female Reverend Minister to shepherd the Congregation .This was followed suit by another female minister, Rev. Mrs. Augustina Sarpong-Kwakwa.
CHRONOLOGY OF PRESBYTERS OF THE ASCENSION CONGREGATION
1965 – 1970 – Mr. G.K. Asamoah
– Mr. E.Y.A. Brown
– Miss J. Akolatse
– Mr. S.K.Leh
– Mr. NarhWayo
1971 – 1975 – Mr. E.Y.A. Brown
– Mad. Naomi Doku
– Mr. D.K. Darkey
– Mrs. Ernestina Botchway
– Mr. Azu
– Mr. N.O.Torgbor
1975-1990 – Mr. William Soli
– Mad. Naomi Doku
– Mr. F.M. Tougan
– Miss. Mary Namo Narteh
– Mrs. Ernestina Botchway
1995 – 2003 – Mr. Otis Asamoah Mensah
– Mr. Francis Doku
– Mr. Frank Dzramado
– Mrs. Dorothy Botchway
– Mrs. Ernestina Botchway
– Miss. Janet AfutuNartey
– Mr. E.K.Agbesi
2004 – 2008 – Cantrell Boadu
– Richard Botchway
– Emmanuel Osabutey
– Patrick Lumumba Asare (Jerusalem)
– Albert Danso
– Lydia Okpanteh
– Victoria Dzramado
– Mary NamoNarteh
– Ruth Kisseh
– Selina Ampofo Addo – (Jerusalem)
2009 – 2012 – Francis Doku
– Victoria Dzramado
– Otis Asamoah Mensah
– Mary Namo Narteh
– Frank Danso
– Janet Afutu Nartey
– Ruth Kisseh
– Hannah Glover
– Emmanuel Osabutey
– Albert Danso
2013 – 2016 – Francis Doku
– Victoria Dzramado
– Otis Asamoah Mensah
– Mary Namo Narteh
– Mercy Narteh
– Elizabeth Ofoe
– Comfort Larbi
– Janet Afutu Nartey
– Jacob Otoo
– Vida Brown
– Vincent Honove
– Frank Danso
NOTABLE EVENTS
- Sod cutting to commence building of Manse: 21st January, 2007.
Members Present:
The District Minister, Rev. E.A. Amarkwei,
The Minster- in- Charge, Rev. Mrs. A.N.O. Swankier.
Mrs. Eunice Abbey was then appointed as Caretaker for the Congregation.
- Commencement of the Bakery; 27th March, 2007.
- Inauguration of Young Adult Fellowship (YAF) 6th September, 2008.
- Movement of the congregation from the old chapel to the ground floor of the manse. 18th September, 2011.
- Inauguration of the Ascension Men’s Fellowship. Rev. J.A. Ayitey was in attendance.
- Approval of Ascension Presbyterian Basic School to operate as a private school under the headship of Mrs. Grace Asante.; 1st September, 2009.
- Inauguration of a Brass Band; 8th August,2010
Executives
President Stephen Alimo
Secretary Richmond Dzramado
Assistant Secretary Nora Botchway
Band Master David A Silenu
Porter Anim Asamoah
Band Major Kwateng David Kofi
FORMATION OF LOCAL GENERATIONAL GROUPS
MEN’S FELLOWSHIP
The formation of the Men’s fellowship began effectively from 1995, after several earlier failed attempts. In 1998 and through the support of the then District President Bro. A.L. Provencal and his able executive members, the local fellowship became vibrant but it relapsed due to the absence of elected local officers to manage affairs. It was later re-organized in the year 2000 and continued to enjoy the support of the succeeding District executives led by Mr. E.A. Adjei the District President. On June 8th, 2003, under the supervision of the District Officers, the Afienya Men’s Fellowship conducted its first election at which the following were elected:
Mr. E.Y.A. Brown – President
Mr. Samuel Martey – Vice President
Mr. Frank Dzramado – Secretary
Mr. James Adjokatcher – Treasurer
Mr. Otis Asamoah Mensah – Financial Secretary
Mr. Cantrell Boadu – Chaplain
Mr. Francis Doku – Publicity Welfare
Mr. Micheal Ashong – Music Director
The fellowship was then inaugurated on 25th July, 2004.
WOMEN FELLOWSHIP
The seed for the formation of the Local Women Fellowship was sown as far back as1971but never saw the light of day till June 17 1973 when Mr. Svanikier revived it and Mrs. Janet Torgbor was put in charge to nurse it.13 women started the fellowship in that year and by the 30th of December 1984, the Women’s Fellowship was inaugurated by the District Women’s Fellowship Officers from Tema Manhean. The then District Minister, Rev. J.R.K. Quartey officiated at its inaugural service.
SINGING BAND
The Tema District Singing Bands Union, on Sunday 26th July, 1983, was in Afienya Presbyterian Church to start the Singing Band. Until 1995, the band could not stand on its feet. The arrival of Mr. M. Ashong, a Singing Band Music Master from Accra in September, 1995, injected a new spirit into the Band. The Band was inaugurated on Sunday, 1st December, 1996 by Rev. J. Lawerteh, the then Minister in Charge of Kpone Bethel Presbyterian Church.
CHURCH CHOIR
Although the Singing Band gave birth to the Church Choir in 1997 it could not stand the test of time until May 1999 when the choir was resurrected under the able leadership of Mr. Isaac Nii Kommey, an experienced Choirmaster from Tema Manhean. The Choir was inaugurated on 1st July, 2001, by Rev. J.C.S. Aryee.
PREACHING POSTS
ABBEY PREACHING POST
An effective collaborative work between Afienya and Dawhenya congregations gave birth to a preaching post at Abbey, a farming village situated between the two towns. On the 8th of June 2003, the initiative which was to invite all Presbyterians from the village also was a relief to all the Presbyterian faithful who hitherto had to walk long distances to either Afienya or Dawhenya to worship on Sundays. Their numerical strength in October 2003 stood at 25 adults and 30 children. The Church is currently under the oversight of both Afienya and Dawhenya congregations.
ATAA MENSAH PREACHING POST
THE SEARCH FOR A MISSION VILLAGE
At the 7th Local Conference of the Most Holy Trinity Presbyterian Church, it was agreed that the church adopts a Mission village. The session consequently charged the Department of Mission and Evangelism to explore the Afienya/Dodowa road villages for this venture.
The team recommended Ataa Mensah to its session, which was agreed on. They therefore sent a letter to the chief of the village, Nii Emanuel Ayi on the 17th of September 2010 to inform him about their mission and also ask for permission for future exploits. An acceptance letter was received by the session on the 15th of December 2010.
FIRST CHURCH SERVICE
On 29th May 2011, the first church service was held on an acquired land and was led by Brother Seth Selvo Agyei. The theme for the sermon on that day was Salvation.
HANDING OVER
The Most Trinity Presbyterian Church handed over this church to the Tema Manhean District on 5th May, 2013. The preaching post is now called Maranatha Presbyterian Preaching Post, Ataa Mensah Afienya with Mr. Cantrell Boadu as its Caretaker.