Source: newsthemegh.com/Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Public Relations Unit
Erection of more Districts aids the ministry God has entrusted into our hands. Rev. Dr. Godwin Nii Noi Odonkor, Clerk of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, said this in his three-day working visit to the West Brong Presbytery this September 2023.
The Clerk of GA was welcomed by Rev. Daniel Bosea Gyinatwi, the Presbytery Chairperson the spectacular public display of welcome. The purpose of the visit was to enable the Clerk to inspect the three (3) proposed Districts to be carved in the Presbytery. Before any District is erected, the PCG constitution demands that the Presbytery informs the GA through GAC. After this, the Clerk of GA would visit the Presbytery and inspect the status of the proposed District to report to GAC.
The hard-working Clerk of GA fulfilled this constitutional mandate to basically check the membership and financial status of the Sub-Districts. The three proposed Districts are Wamanafo to be calved from the Wamfie District; Baano from the Japekrom District; and Goka from the Suma Kwatwoma District. The three when approved by the GAC would bring the total number of Districts in the West Brong Presbytery to 20.
During the visit, members showed that their request for elevation to a District status was to facilitate effective evangelism and coordination. On his side, the Clerk advised the Catechists in the proposed Districts to work assiduously and assist the Ministers to make them stand out if their requests were granted.
The Clerk of GA took the opportunity to visit the Presbyterian Hospital and the Presbyterian Nursing and Midwifery Training College at Dormaa Ahenkro (PNMTC). The hospital’s General Manager, Rev. Dr. Isaac Appiah, stated in his welcoming address that there are 371 nurses and midwives, as well as 17 medical officers and physician assistants working in the hospital. The pediatric center, the main provider of pediatric care in the Northing sector apart from KATH, Kumasi, was mentioned as one of the hospital’s several units. According to Dr. Appiah, the center has five (5) medical doctors working in that area alone to care for pediatric patients at any given moment.
Dr. Appiah also reported a remarkable increase in OPD attendants, which he estimated to be slightly over 100,000 per annum. The hospital contributed importantly by offering home care and medical services to the church’s invalids. Currently, the hospital has provided two blankets—free—to some infirms living in the Dormaa neighborhood. The hospital, he said, has plans to begin geriatrics soon.
The Clerk thanked the hospital’s administration for the excellent work done. He emphasized that the hospital has a different mission than other hospitals because it is a mission hospital. In performing their jobs, he urged management and employees to work together in harmony.
The Clerk of GA paid a courtesy call on the PNMTC where Dr. Charles Agyemang Prempeh, the College Principal, revealed that the PNTC which was established in 2010, presently has 1058 students enrolled. There are three programs offered by the school: Registered General Nursing, Registered Midwifery, and Registered Nurse Assisting and Clinic.
In order to remain relevant to the requirements of the time, he added that the school intends to provide specialist programs like geriatrics and emergency nursing. The Clerk of GA expressed his joy for the work the college had accomplished in the brief time since its inception and promised the Church’s support to expand and advance the work.
Going round to the yet to be carved District, the Clerk of GA, Rev. Dr. G. N. N. Odonkor was accompanied by Rev. Daniel Bosea Gyinantwi, the Chairperson of the Presbytery; Rev. Martin Ansu-Kumih, the Presbytery Clerk, Mr. Dickson Owusu Ansah, the Presbytery Lay Representative to GAC; Rev. Daniel Brobbey, Presbytery Director for Mission and Evangelism and Rev. Emmanuel Kyeremeh, the Presbytery PRO.