Friday 24th February, 2017 marked the sod cutting ceremony of a long desired dream of Most Rev. Peter Kwaku Atuahene, Chief Shepherd of a predominantly rural Diocese of Goaso, to help improve the living standards of the people through holistic and quality education. According to the Bishop, the school would provide an exceptional good learning environment for students, in the vicinity and beyond, for many years to come.
Work officially commenced on the construction of St. Pope John Paul II Senior High School and Minor Seminary at Bechem. According to the Bishop, the magnitude of the project could be very scary, yet he had to take a bold decision to move a step forward from a thousand-mile journey. He made available the Proceeds of his 60th Birthday Anniversary celebrations as Seed Money to commence the project.
The Bishop appealed to Donor Agencies, Parishes, Institutions, Societies, Stakeholders and Individuals in the Diocese and beyond and the general public to assist him in the realization of this noble dream. It is his wish that the essential buildings could be completed soonest for commissioning and starting of the school.
In attendance at the ceremony were Most Rev. Peter Kwaku Atuahene, Catholic Bishop of Goaso; Nana Fosu Gyeabour Akoto II, Omanhene of Bechem; Mr. James Frimpong-Asante, Architect, Missions Arc Consult and his team; Mr George Darfour, DASS Water Engineering and Construction Works – Wenchi; and scores of Priests and Religious performed and witnessed the ceremony at the site. The Bishop cut the sod while Nana Fosu Gyaebour planted the Memorial Tree. Bishop Atuahene used the occasion to thank the Omanhene, Nana Fosu Gyeabour Akoto II, for his unflinching support and most importantly for the provision of vast acres of land for future development. The bishop further said history was repeating itself, in that, in the 1940s Bechem was a preparatory ground for minor seminarians. The Omanhene applauded the Bishop for choosing Bechem for the site of the school.
The Architect, Mr. Frimpong in his submission explained the need to make the drawings in cognizance with the privacy as well as protection of the students from the intrusion of the general public. Most of structures would be three-storey buildings and it would include the Administration, Classrooms, Masters’ Bungalows, Sporting and health facilities, Auditorium, Chapel, Maintenance Department, Dining Hall and Kitchen.