Rev. Msgr. Matthew Addai, Vicar General of the Goaso Diocese was recently inducted into office as the 12th substantive Principal of the St. Joseph College of Education (JOSCO) at Bechem in the Brong-Ahafo Region during a solemn and impressive ceremony.
The induction ceremony which took place in the 900-seating capacity College Chapel, commenced with a concelebrated Eucharistic celebration presided over by the Most Rev. Peter Kwaku Atuahene, Bishop of Goaso.
In a homily on the theme “St. Joseph as a family’, Bishop Atuahene stressed the need for them to live in harmony and to show love and respect for each other.
He urged Msgr. Addai to create a congenial atmosphere to enable each one to play their respective roles effectively urging him to be respectful, tolerant, and humble but firm in his decisions.
He appealed to the Principal to share responsibilities and empower his collaborators to contribute their quota to the development of the Institution.
Bishop Atuahene urged the Staff to cooperate with the Principal to improve the academic, moral, and spiritual formation of the students.
Bishop Atuahene who is also the Chairman of the College Governing Council charged the Students to be disciplined, law abiding, studious, respectful and God fearing.
He called on all to have the interest of children in the country at heart and continue to support the Colleges of Education to make the training of teachers less challenging.
The Bishop presented the Statutes of Colleges of Education to Msgr. Addai, blessed, robed, and installed him as the Principal.
In his inaugural address, Msgr. Addai said he hoped to build a leading Catholic institution of excellence in the country with the assistance of Tutors and the Students
He added that St. Joseph College of Education seeks to produce teachers who are role models and are able to produce disciplined children with very good examination results who would become productive and useful citizens and leaders of tomorrow.
To those advocating for freedom and human rights saying that Colleges of Education are tertiary institutions and so trainees must be allowed to wear anything, dress anyhow, and do whatever suits them, Msgr. Addai cautioned that discipline must not be cruelly sacrificed on the altar of tertiary education stressing that the children of Ghana have a right to better education and to be taught by highly disciplined and committed teachers.
Sir Justice Denis Adjei, an Appeal Court Judge, led Msgr. Addai to take the Oath of Office.
Dignitaries present were: Nana Fosu Gyeabour Akoto II, Omanhene of Bechem Traditional Area, Principals of other Colleges of Education, Noble Old Joscodians, Priests, Religious, Staff Members and Students.
