Dwinyama Deanery

VERY REV. FR. ANTHONY GYAMERAH

Name of Parish: St. Anthony
Location: Dwinyama
Name of Priest: Frs. Anthony Gyamerah, PP, Andrew Osei Bonsu – Associate
Outstations: Biemso I, Biemso II, Sienkyem, Amangoase, Kwamekyemkrom, Asuadei, Fawoman. Pokukrom, Nsuta, Kwamekyemkrom, Aburaso
Contacts: Box 28, Dwinyama. Tel: 032 – 2035470

ST. ANTHONY’S CATHOLIC CHURCH, DWINYAMA

The desire that led to the establishment of St. Anthony Catholic Church occurred to Kwaku Yinka. History has it that he started mobilizing people for the church somewhere in 1904. With assistance from Mr. Ankra who was a native of Cape Coast and residing at Dwinyama during that period, Kwaku Yinka was able to mobilize few people for the commencement of the church. Notably among them were Agya Kusi, Peter Wereko, Kwame Fosu, Kwadwo Barnie, Nana Kofi Ntosuor, and Yaw Adum. The church was started at Dwinyama old town, now Zongo. Later, Mr. Ankra who was by then at the helm of affairs went back to his hometown, Cape Coast, with Mr. Akyereko (A native of Dwinyama). Through the efforts of Mr. Ankra, Akyereko completed school in Cape Coast. The absence of Mr. Ankra led to the collapse of the church. Upon the completion of his education, Mr. Akyereko returned and became the first catechist. As the church was steadily progressing, the church members put up a building. This desire compelled Peter Wereko and Kwabena Kusi to raise a loan of eight pounds for the construction of the church building. Fr. Rothoff from Kumasi helped them. The first eleven people of the church were baptized and became communicants. Later, Peter Wereko and his wife Mary Fofie received the sacrament of Holy Matrimony. Due to the increase of the membership of the church, the first church committee was formed with Kwabena Kusi as the first president.

Many philanthropists had assisted the church in so many ways. Kwame Fosu for instance, bought a bell and an organ for the church and when the bell was stolen, Joseph Kyenkyehene replaced the lost one. During this period, Fr. Joseph Mulders, SMA visited them. The church’s population increased rapidly and this compelled the church council to put up a new church building. Kwadwo Barnie was then the church president.

Fr. Joseph Mulders, SMA established a school for the church in 1940. The church building now St. Edward hospital was commissioned in 1953. When the founders of the church realized that they had been able to evangelize the people of Dwinyama, they decided to propagate in towns like Tepa, Kenyasi, Hwidiem, Goaso and Mim. For all these years, St. Anthony Church, Dwinyama was not a parish but an out-station. It gained the status of a parish in November, 1975 under the Diocese of Kumasi with seventeen outstations. Fr Augustine Bio became the first Parish Priest. St. Anthony Parish, Dwinyama became part of Goaso Diocese in 2000. On 24^th September, 2016, an incident happened where a macho man called Mohammed Sani assaulted two priests, Fr. Daniel Afum and Fr. Anthony Awuah Boateng in the Parish.

Priests from the parish: Monsignor Benjamin Opoku Donkor (Biemso II) Date of Ordination: 3/7/1977. Fr. Isaac Adjei Aniwah (Dwinyama) Date of Ordination: 6/7/2013

Priests who have served the parish: Msgr. Augustine Bio (1975 – 1986), Fr. Comas Osei Amponsah (1986 – 1988), Fr. Paul Rehling (Served for 3 weeks), Fr. Dominic Kofi Akowuah (1988 – 1989), Fr. Opoku Sarkodie (1989), Fr. Osei Bonsu (1989), Fr. Anthony Kyere Mensah (1989), Fr. Theresa Paul Amoako (1989 –1990), Fr. Edward Scott (CSSp) (1991 –1995), Fr. Louis Tuffour (1995-3 months), Fr. Emmanuel Tabi Mensah (1995 – 2000), Fr. Augustine Nsiah Asante (2000 –2003), Fr. Augustine Owusu (2003 –2006), Fr. Emmanuel Owusu Amoako (2006 –2011), Fr. Daniel Afum (2011 –2016), Fr. John William Fynn, Fr. Anthony Awuah Boateng, David Owusu Asante (Associate), Anthony Gyamera and Andrew Osei Bonsu.

Societies : St. Anthony Guild, St. Anthony Choir, Parish Nnwomkro Group, Sacred Heart of Jesus, Legion of Mary, Christian Mothers Association, St. Theresa of the Child Jesus, Catholic Women Association, Children of Mary, Catechists Association, Lay Readers, C. Y. O, Charismatic Renewal, Youth Association.

Outstation churches: Essienkyem, Biemso I, Fawoman, Biemso II, Kwamekyemkrom, Potrikrom, Pokukrom, Aburaso, Mantukwa, Asuadei, Amangoase, Nsutam, Nsuta, Pokuase

St. Edward hospital: St. Edward’s clinic at Dwinyama was opened with the sole aim of improving the Health of the people of Dwinyama and its environs. Recently, Diocesan Health Service has raised St. Edwards Maternity Clinic to a Hospital.

Name of Parish: St. Peter
Location: Sabronum
Name of Priest: Fr. Christopher Kwakye - PP
Outstations: Sabronum-Camp, Sabronum-Apremadi, Bokuruwa, Adukrom, Apronpronso.
Contacts: c/o Box 28, Dwinyama.

ST. PETER PARISH - SABRONUM

The seed of Catholicism was sown in Sabronum around 1930 by a group of young men and women who have travelled outside the town as traditional Sawyers. They came into contact with the catholic faith where they worked. Some of the founding fathers are: Mensah, Kofi Apomasu, Kwadwo Duah, Joseph Akande Lagos, Kwame Bediako, Madam Abrafi, Madam Ama Teaa, Francis Kwadwo Aboagye, Anthony Kwadwo Amponsah, Kwadwo Frimpong, Kwadwo Annor, Kwasi Nantie and Kwame Poku.

In 1934, these people built a church near Sabronum Zongo for worship. They worshiped in the building for six years. The flood of river Abu used to disturbed them every year during the raining season. So they put up another church building at the north of the town in 1940. There were frequent visits by priests from the St. Joseph Church, Bechem. These priests included Fathers: Henry Monde, Van De Leew, Joseph Moulders, and others. In 1953, Fr. Matthew Kwasi Adjaye was appointed as curate at Bechem. Fr. Adjaye was the visiting priest until Tepa was elevated as a Parish. Sabronum became part of Tepa Parish until 1975, when Dwinyama St. Anthony’s Church was elevated as a Parish. Fr. Augustine Bio became the Parish Priest of St. Anthony’s Parish. Under the pastoral care of Fr. Bio, Sabronum Church building was completed.

In 1935, the first baptism and holy matrimony was witnessed in the church. Peter Kwame Bediako, Andrews Kwasi Nantie, John Kwame Poku, Francis Kwadwo Aboagye, Madam Afia Abrafi were baptised. Peter Kwame Bediako and Madam Elizabeth Ataah solemnized their marriage.

In 1999, the Catechist Henry Chachavuvu was instituted as Eucharistic Minister or an extraordinary minister of Holy Communion.

Presidents: Peter Kwame Bediako, John Kofi Owusu, Thomas Okyere, Peter Dwumfour, John Mark Nsiah Appau, Atta Simon, Andrew Kwarteng Agyemang, Stephen Sempeh Agyei, John Owusu Kontor, Samuel Gyamfi, Augustine Boampong, Nicholas Dei Manu. Catechists: Kwadwo Frimpong, Kwadwo Aboagye, Kwame Bediako, Stephen Nsiah, S. O. Yeboah, Henry Chachavuvu, Emmanuel Osei Rockson, Francis Donkor Thomas Addai, Gabriel Bediako, Charles Agyei

Societies:Catholic Women Association, Christian Mothers’ Association, St. Theresa of the Child Jesus, Dagaaba Choir and Group, Choir, Nwomkro – St. Mary’s Guild, Catholic Charismatic Renewal, Sacred Heart Confraternity, St. Anthony’s Guild, Youth Council {a. Catholic Youth Organization, b. Knights and Ladies of the Altar, c. Children of Mary Society, Societal children’s wing}.

On 1^st November, 2010, St. Peter’s Catholic Church, Sabronum was elevated to the status of a Rectorate by Most Rev. Peter Kwaku Atuahene, and Fr. Augustine Amankwaa Boateng was appointed as the first Rector. On 1^st November, 2017, Fr. Bismark Kyeremeh Appiah was appointed as the second Rector. St. Peter Rectorate was carved out of St. Anthony Parish, Dwinyama with seven stations: Sabronum, Adukrom, Bokuruwa, Camp, Apenimadi, Gyaukrom and Aponaponoso. On 1^st January, 2019 St. Thomas Catholic Church, Ahwerewam was transferred from St. Anthony Parish Dwinyama to St. Peter’s Quasi Parish, Sabronum.

Name of Parish: St. Matthew
Location: Kunsu
Name of Priest: Frs. Sixtus Kyei-Kusi – PP, Stephen Naab – Associate. 
Outstations: Saakrom, Assibey – Nkwanta, Boatengkrom, Bonkwaso, Kunsu – Camp, Kunsu – Dotiem, Kunsu – Apremadi, Barimayena, Bonkrong, Nyame Adom
Contacts: c/o Box 28, Dwinyama.

ST. MATTHEW CATHOLIC CHURCH - KUNSU

St. Matthew Catholic church was started in 1930 by a small group of Christ’s faithful who came together to form the Catholic Church at Kunsu. Church services and Masses were held at the Kunsu old town. In 1948-1958, the church was relocated to Kunsu new site and Masses were held at the R/C School grounds. The Kunsu Catholic Church was originally part of the Bechem Parish with Fr. Joseph Mulders as the Parish Priest. Fr. Mulders started the old Kunsu church building. The church building was completed in 1961 by Fr. Matthew Adjaye who was the Parish Priest of St. Mary’s Parish, Tepa St. Matthew Church became an outstation of Tepa for a very long time. It later became part of the St. Anthony Parish, Dwinyama, when it was curved from the then Tepa Parish. Fr. Augustine Bio was the Parish Priest. All this while, the Kunsu church was under Kumasi Diocese before it was later added to the Goaso Diocese in 2000.

It was Fr. Augustine Bio who started the Kunsu mission house in the 1980s and was completed during the tenure of Fr. Emmanuel Tabi Mensah. It was blessed by Bishop Peter Kwaku Atuahene on 31^st March, 2000. Gabriel Adabo Donkor was the then church president. In 2003, the Kunsu Catholic Church was made a rectorate with Fr. Charles Gyasi Buabeng as the first Rector. On 22^nd September, 2004, Most Rev. Peter Kwaku Atuahene raised the St. Matthew rectorate to a parish status. Fr. Charles Gyasi Buabeng became the first Pastor of the Parish. The territorial boundary of the St. Matthew Parish at the time of the creation were Kunsu, Mankranso, Asempanaye, Boatengkrom, Bonkwaso, Nyameadom, Kunsu Camp, Kunsu Dotiem, Bonkron, Kunsu Apenamadi, Barimayena, Saakrom, Assibey Nkwanta and Afresine.

Mankranso, St. Patrick Catholic Church, was later carved out from Kunsu Parish with two other outstations – Asempanaye and Afresine. The Kunsu Parish is now made up of twelve (12) outstations with four (4) zones. In 2009, second Parish Priest, Fr. Anthony Gyamera, started a new church building at Kunsu. The new church building is now at the point of finishing.

In 2016, the Holy Family Sisters came to Goaso diocese and were assigned to Kunsu Parish. They lived in a rented a house till the completion of their convent in 2017. The first Sisters, Srs. Deepa, Pushpa and Sophy from India were assigned to the Parish. The Holy Family Sisters started the Holy Family School which was later changed to St. Mariam Thresian School at Kunsu

PARISH PRIESTS: Fr. Charles Gyasi Buabeng, Fr. Anthony Gyamerah, Fr. Dominic Apaata, Fr. Jonas Opoku Gyamfi, Fr. Elisha Manu, Fr. Sixtus Kyei Kusi. Presidents: Yaw Nti Kromo, Francis Kusi Ababio, James Kwabena Owusu Ansah, Gabriel Adabo Donkor, Patrick Osei Yaw, Paul Osei Kwame, Joseph Asamoah, James Adu Gyamfi, James Asamoah Kusi. Catechists: Patrick Osei Yaw, Emmanuel Ofori Ntow, James Tuffour, Michael Banahene and Gilbert Derry.

Priests and Religious from Kunsu Parish: Fr. Francis Kusi Ababio, Fr. Emmanuel Oppong, SP, Francis Kusi Ababio.

Name of Parish: St. Patrick
Location: Mankranso
Name of Priest: Fr. Dominic Obese Asare, CSSp
Outstations: Afreseni, Asempanaye
Contacts: c/o Box 28, Dwinyama.

ST. PATRICK CATHOLIC CHURCH - MANKRANSO

The Catholic Church in Mankranso started in 1940 by Kwame Duah who migrated to Mankranso to undertake cocoa farming activities. Kwaku Duah became very sick at the point of death and was sent to Kumasi. Some Catholics Priests in Kumasi gathered around him, prayed for him and he recovered. As a way of showing gratitude for what God has done for him, Kwaku Duah started the Church in Mankranso in 1940 with some cocoa farmers. Some of these people were Kwabena Adjei, Kwasi Marboah, Kwadwo Dei and Kwaku Mensah (Agya Pee). At that time, there were no church in Mankranso and its surrounding towns, so Mankranso first came under the Bechem Parish and Fr. Joseph Mulders helped the place to put up their church building in 1953.

In 1956, Mankranso came under Tepa Parish with Fr. Matthew Adjaye as their visiting priest. In 1975, Dwinyama Parish was erected and Mankranso was brought under the Dwinyama Parish with Fr. Augustine Bioh as the first Parish Priest. In 2001, Kunsu Parish was established with fourteen outstations and Mankranso came under it.

THE OPENING OF MANKRANSO ST. PATRICK QUASI PARISH

The Bishop came to Mankranso and promised to establish a Parish Centre in Mankranso if only they could put up a mission house. However, at the foundation level, a priest was sent on 30^th May, 2015 to live in a rented apartment. The first Parish Priest was Fr. Simon Adu- Gyamfi, CSSp a member of the congregation of the Holy Spirit (Spiritans Fathers). Second parish priest was Fr. Isaac Donkor, CSSp and followed by Fr Dominic Asare, CSSp. Matthew Borgor became the president after Osei Peter. Kobi Tumffour was the Secretary and Paul Osei as the Catechist.

Societies: Choir, Youth Association, St. Anthony’s guild, St. Theresah, Catholic Women Association and St. Patrick Men Fellowship Association (i.e people who do not belong to any association in the church). Mankranso has about 400 members, out of which 250 are women and the rest are men.