AKUAPEMS CONVERGE TO RAISE FUNDS TO BUILD A UNIVERSITY

As part of her ambition to open a University, the Presbyterian Church of Ghana decided to have three satelite campuses at Abetifi, Agogo and Akropong. Abetifi campus was opened last year and the University Council intends to open the Akuapem Campus in September/October, this year.

So far a lot of refurbishment works have gone on at the Old Salem Campus. To gear themselves up for work to be completed for the commencement of the University the Presbyterian Council in Collaboration with the local Implementation Committee organised what they called ''Home Coming''. On the 2nd of April 2005, Akuapems from all walks of life gathered at the Old Salem for this purpose.

In attendacne were Hon. Dan Botwe, Minister for Information, Hon. Mercy Bampo Addo, Deputy Minister at the Office of the President, Hon. W.O. Boafo, Deputy Minister for Defence and Hon. Opare Asamoah, Deputy Minister for Roads and Transport.

Hon. Dan Botwe, Minister of Information & Hon. Mrs. Bampo Addo, Deputy Minister off at the Office of the President at the Programme.

Other dignitories pressent included, Chiefs from Aseseeso, Awukugua, Mamfe and Akropong. Also in attendance were Akuapem Ridge Church Choirs Union, Akropong District Choir and representatives of the various Groups in the Church.

Since the ''Home Coming'' became part of the Presbytery Conference, all the delegates became part of the programme. In all, over three hundred million Cedis was realized. We say Ayekoo to all the organizers for the yeoman's work done. If anything at all, the fact that they brought such Chiefs and people of Akuapem descent together is a plus in itself.

AKROPONG HOLDS A SUCCESSFUL PRESBYTERY CONFERENCE

The 78th Annual Conference of the Akuapem Presbytery was held in Akropong from 29th March to 3rd April with the theme ''That All May Have Life In Fullness'' . In all....pastors from every District in the Presbytery were in attendance.

Out of the total number of 91 registered accredited delegates, 42 representing........% lodged in the Presbyterian Training College. All the others were housed in various homes. This saved the Presbytery over four million Cedis.

The Conference begun on the 29th March at exactly 7:00pm. The chapel was filled to capacity with delegates, Groups in the District and enthusiastic members of the Presbyterian congregations in the District. The Opening Service was led by the Rev. Anokye Nkansah of the Peace Presbyterian Church.

The Rev. E. Ahenkorah-Mensah of the Calvary Presbyterian Chuch in Koforidua-Nsukwaw greeted the people of Akropong on behalf of the delegates. He based his message on Heb. 13:7 and called on the people of Akropong to remember the forebears of the church who had left us with many rich legacies.

On his part, the Rev. G.O. Kwapong, the District Minister for Akropong read from John 1:1-4. He explained that the 'Fullness of Life', which is the theme for the Conference is made possible only through Jesus Christ, for in Him alone is life according to the passage. He continued by stating that this fullness of life was the message of the early Basel Missionaris who came to Akropong 170 years ago to preach the gospel to our ancestors. From here this message has been proclaimed to many other parts of this country.

He hinted that the Presbyterian Church in Akropong is celebrating her 170th anniverssary this year and this Conference has become part of the celebration. On behalf of the District he welcomed the Presbytery Chairperson, the Presbyterial Council and all the delegates to Akropong. He encouraged them to enjoy the fullness of life, which by the grace of God abounds in Akropong so much.

During the Conference, reports were taking from the various Districts, Departments and the Acting Clerk of the Presbytery. The reports indicated that many of the Districts increased in their numerical strengths.

At the end of the Conference, the following Officers were elected by the delegates:

(1) The Rev. Barimah Appiah-Dankwa who had served as the Acting Clerk of the Presbytery since October 2004, was elected as the substantive Clerk.

(2) Justice S.G. Okraku, a retired High Court Judge who happends to be the Senior Presbyter of Adawso was also elected as the Lay Representative to the General Assembly Council.

(3) Mrs. Esther Joyce Acquah, a retired Educationist and a Presbyter at the Peace Presby Church in Akropong was also elected to represent the laiting in the Presbytery on the Presbyterial Council.

The Conference ended with a convenant service for all church members present in the presence of the Moderator, the Rt. Rev. Dr. Yaw Frimpong-Manso. It was a unique thing which happend for the first time in the history of the Presbytery and many have remarked that it should be a permanent feature in the annual Presbytery Conferences.