Techimantia

Name of Parish: Sacred Heart
Location: Techimantia
Name of Priest: Frs. Denis Senyo Etti, SMA. Francis Kunda, SMA
Outstations: Dwomo, Tweapease, Subriso, Asuboi.
Contacts: Box 1, Techimantia

SACRED HEART PARISH – TECHIMANTIA

Techimantia Sacred Heart Catholic church was started by a singing band leader who later became the Choirmaster Kwaku Nti, who hailed from Dome near Agogo in the Asante Akim area in the Ashanti Region, had his singing prowess as his greatest weapon in his evangelization efforts. The Presbyterian Church had gained roots in Techimantia so he had it tough getting converts for his new faith.

The Techimantia Catholic Church started as St. Anthony Catholic Church and after a while changed to Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church as most of the leading members joined that confraternity. It is on record that a teacher by name Albert Anto was transferred from Bechem to Techimantia in 1936. It can therefore be inferred from this history that the church must have been established in the early1930’s. Kofi Nti was assisted greatly by Peter Anyimadu who was the first president of the church.

The Catholic Church at Techimantia was the first to be established in the Ahafo area. The visiting priest, Fr. Rothoff, resided in Kumasi and did his visitations to Techimantia and Berekum. After a while, Fr. Fisher was sent to Berekum to be in charge of the two stations. During their visits to Techimantia, the priests were accommodated in a house popularly called "bungalow" which has now lent its name to that area of the town. Part of the old building still stands and is inhabited by descendants of the owner, Yaw Addo. With the good work of Peter Anyimadu and the other pioneers, churches were opened at Dwomo, Derma, Adaa, Subriso, Asuboi, Ankaase, Tweapease, Derma Nkwaakyire, Monta and Techimantia Nyamebeye. The members worshipped in a shed raised for that purpose at the spot near the place currently used by a plastic container repairer in the old market. Fr. Leones built a new one on the site where food vendors sell food items to school pupils. The third building is the current one which has even undergone some extensive renovations. The church in Techimantia started a mission house near the primary school area but due to encroachments from the people, a new site was acquired for its mission house and development projects. The new mission house was started and completed in 1984. Fr. John Flynn was the first occupant of the house. It has since been the official residence for all Parish Priests posted to Techimantia.

Presidents: Peter Anyimadu, Kwadwo Owusu, Peter Boakye, John Yaw Fosah, Stephen Boadu, Charles Badu, Stephen Boadu, Charles Adu Agyei, Samuel Kyeremeh, Agnes Appiah, Matthew Damptey and Osberth Ampofo.

Resident priests: Fr. John Flynn SMA (1984 -1986), Fr. Joachim Boadi Amponim (1987 – 1991), Fr. Paul Miki Gyamfi (1991 – 1995), Fr. John Addae Boateng (Jan – Sept 1995), Fr. Augustine Owusu-Addo (1995 – 1996), Fr. Andrew Takyia (1996), Fr. Anthony Marfo Dwomo (1996 – 1997), Fr. Charles Gyasi Buabeng (1998 – 1999, Fr. Augustine Nsiah Asante (1999 – 2000, Fr. Isaac Boansi (2000 – 2004), Fr. Benjamin Asibuo Kusi (2004 – 2011), Fr. Francis Addai Poku (2011 – 2014), Fr. Fr. Anthony Marfo Dwomo (2014 – 2017), Fr. Gaspard Dery (2017 – 2018), Fr. Francis Ayana (2018), Fr. Michael Amponsah (2018 – 2021),Fr. Denis Senyo Kormla Etti, SMA (2021),Fr. Davis Tetteh Angmor(2025).

Priests from the parish: Frs: Stephen Danso, Emmanuel Tabi Gyansah, Dominic Antwi Boasiako, Augustine Nsiah Asante, John Forkuo, Joseph Donkor, Marcellinus Edward Tangviel

Religious from the parish: Sr. Beatrice Coffie

VISITING BISHOPS:

1. Most Rev. Abraham Katumana, then Papal Pro-nuncio for Ghana and Togo visited the Parish during the time of Fr. J. Boadi Amponim.

2. Most Rev. George Kocherry Papal Nuncio to Ghana(2000 to 2007), Cardinal Tomko from Rome an Bishop James K. Owusu, Bishop of Sunyani Diocese visited the parish during the time of Fr. Paul Miki Gyamfi.

3. The Bishop of Goaso Diocese, Most Rev. Peter K. Atuahene paid his first visit to the Parish in 1998.

FIRST BAPTISM
Fr. Joachim Boadi Amponim administered the first Sacrament of baptism of six people who were preparing for Holy Matrimony. Two of them were children of the catechumenates. They were Anna Opoku Ankobea, Moses Kwaku Fosu, John Kwasi Domfe, Awere Tiwaa Damptey and her two daughters, Comfort Boatemaa Afriyie and Cecilia Serwaa Afriyie. This was on 3^rd December, 1987. Marriage blessing: Three marriages were the first to be blessed in the Parish. The couples who had their marriages blessed on 5^th December 1987 were Mr. and Mrs. Afriyie, Mr. and Mrs. Fosu and Mr. and Mrs. Domfe. Confirmations: A total of 217 candidates received the sacrament of confirmation between 2002 and 2005 from Bishop Atuahene. Catechists: John K. Kwarteng was appointed the full time Parish Catechist on the 1^st of November, 1998 by Fr. Charles Gyasi Buabeng.