A sod-cutting ceremony has been held for the construction of a New Primary classroom building for the Roman Catholic Primary School at Ejisu-Bease in the Ejisu Municipality in Ashanti Region.

The new school building is thoughtfully designed to include the following: 12 classrooms with furniture, a library with furniture, computer lab with furniture, headmistress office and store with furniture and a private restroom, a staff common room with furniture and private restroom, upgraded restroom facilities for students, and improved access to drinking water by digging borehole and mechanizing it. We are still looking for donors to help us secure 20 desktop computers, a projector and screen, photocopier and 2 printers for the computer laboratory and the headmistress office.

The project is being funded by Big Heart of Faith Outreach, a charitable organization founded by Rev. Fr. Atta Nsiah.

The Foundation is registered non-profit organization inaugurated for educational purposes in Ghana, especially the Ashanti Region.

Joyfully celebrating his 25 years as a priest, Father Paul Attah-Nsiah is happy to share with his “home parishes,” St. Columbkille’s and St. Joseph the Worker in Dubuque, in giving thanks to God for the abundant blessings of his life. Born in 1963 in a small town called Ejisu-Besease, in Ghana, Father was one of nine children who lived a most humble life with his mother, who raised the children alone after his dad’s death in 1972, when Father Attah-Nsiah was just 9 years old. Many graces accompanied the large family beginning with Father Attah-Nsiah’s mother raising the children Catholic as his father wished, even though she herself was Methodist. As they became young men, the expectation and responsibility for the boys in his family was to assist all the other children (and relatives) continue their education. It was no small effort, and without his family’s blessing (for several years), that Father Attah-Nsiah persevered in following the call he felt God had given him.

Many years of education in Rome, Canada and Ghana led to Father Attah-Nsiah receiving his doctorate in canon law from the Pontifical Lateran University in Rome, master’s and licentiate degrees in canon law from Ottawa University and St. Paul University in Ottawa, Canada, as well as religion and sociology in his undergraduate studies in Ghana.

Father Attah-Nsiah has enjoyed many pastoral assignments over his 25 years, all of which have allowed him to share and expand his knowledge of and love for his faith in Jesus Christ through the people he has encountered. Whether as a seminary formation director, administrator, pastor, vicar, or now as an associate pastor at St. Joseph the Worker and St. Columbkille’s, while also assisting as a judge for the Archdiocesan Tribunal in Dubuque, Father Attah-Nsiah’s love for people and joy in living the Gospel have brought him great fulfillment as a priest and unworthy servant to God’s people. Experiencing the broad spectrum of church throughout the world and coming to understand how culture impacts faith’s practice have become significant teachers and an immense blessing.

Father Attah-Nsiah’s personal mission, from the time he understood his own family’s plight, has been to improve Catholic education in Ghana for everyone by establishing schools. Notable among them: St. Mary Girls Senior High School at Konongo and an ultramodern senior high school, student population of 800, at Mamponteng, called Our Lady of Grace Senior High School with funding support coming from Our Lady of Grace Parish in Edina, Minnesota. It is Father’s hope now, to inspire people to assist him in providing seed money to construct a new elementary school replacing the dilapidated building which he himself attended some 50 years ago. Brick by brick, it will be a great gift and blessing just to begin. Catholic education is the best vehicle for deepening faith, diminishing poverty and forming individuals who can become strong moral leaders for their people.

Father Attah-Nsiah invites everyone to share with him this mile marker on his journey. Please pray for his continued service to God and God’s people. If possible, join him July 13-14 at St. Joseph the Worker – after Masses, or at St. Columbkille’s on July 20-21 – after Masses. Thank you in advance for any support you can offer toward assisting in the education of children in his homeland.

The first phase of a new model co-educational senior high school (SHS) at Mamponteng in the Kwabre District of the Ashanti Region has been completed to admit fresh students for the 2013/2014 academic year.
The first phase of the project which comprises a 24-unit classroom block, administrative block, science and domestic block, a library and ICT centre was completed within 10 months at the cost of $2 million.

The project was financed by an American couple, Mr Warren Staley and Mrs Mary Lynn Staley who are members of Our Lady of Grace Catholic Parish in Edina, Minnesota, USA.

Inauguration

The official inauguration was performed by the Akyempimhene of the Kumasi Traditional Council (KTC), Oheneba Adusei -Opoku, on behalf of the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.

Oheneba Adusei-Opoku commended the example set by the American couple and said it should be emulated by all.

He also praised the Catholic Church for its immense contribution, particularly to education and promised the couple that Asanteman would ensure that the school was given the needed attention to achieve the objective for which it was built.

The Akyempimhene also commended the Mamponteng sub-traditional area for releasing land for the project.

A deputy minister of Education, Mr Alex Kyereme, also congratulated the couple on their effort.

Mr Kyereme expressed admiration for the major role played by the Catholic Church in the country’s education over the years.

The deputy minister said the government would continue to provide resources to facilitate access to quality education.

By Nana Yaw Barimah/Daily Graphic/Ghana