Another year has passed under the scourge of the coronavirus with the relevant restrictions, the economic consequences, the bans on South Africans traveling to several countries since the fourth mutation of the virus was connected, somewhat unfairly, with South Africa. During the year, I was in constant contact with our Vicar, Fr. Joseph, on matters concerning Ghana, and Fr. Jeremiah, on matters concerning Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso.
Fortunately, towards the end of the year the situation improved and I left for Ghana. There, I had the opportunity to visit several parishes as well as schools. In our meeting with the priests, several important issues were discussed-
- • Priestly duties and the need for the priest to be a role model for the faithfu
- • The programme for 2022 (God willing and coronavirus permitting)
- o Annual pilgrimage to Fomena
- o Youth camp
- o Clergy meetings
- • The census of the faithful of each parish in order to have a better picture of our reality.
- • The celebration of the 40th anniversary of the integration of the Indigenous people into the canonical Orthodox Church.
- • The need to find capable and worthy people to prepare them for the Priesthood.
Among the plans and projects that we have set as goals are the following:
- • The preparation of catechetical material for all ages
- • The introduction of the course of Agriculture at St. Peter’s College. The College is located in a rural area and the course will greatly benefit the local population
- • The reopening and improvement of Breman Elementary School facilities. The school was closed with the coronavirus outbreak and has not reopened since
- • Sewage and waste management systems in the communities of Breman and Gomoa Fomena
- • Finding a suitable person to study Theology abroad (e.g., at Seminaries like Holy Cross or St. Vladimir’s, at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and others…)
- • Training seminars for the clergy of the Diocese
- • Participation of the parishes in the expenses of the parish – maintenance, partial coverage of the priest’s salary, and others…
I also had meetings with His Excellency the Ambassador of Greece in Nigeria. Mr. Ioannis Plotas (responsible for West Africa), the Honorary Consul of Cyprus Mrs. Marianna Gabriel, His Excellency Minister of Foreign Affairs of Greece Mr. Dendias and the council of St. Nicholas School in Tema. This school only goes as far as Middle School. Our St. Peter’s College is a Senior High School, so I took the opportunity to offer the St. Nicholas middle school students the chance to continue their schooling at St. Peter’s. In other words, there was an informal “twinning” between the two schools.
I dare say that things in Ghana, always by the Grace of God, are going well. I had a meeting with all three of our clergymen from Ivory Coast who informed me about the progress of the Church there.
I am sure you remember the case of Saint Nectarios Church in Agboville. The believers, seeing that there would be no money left for the construction of their church, decided to build it themselves, with whatever means they had at their disposal. This issue greatly moved the Orthodox Missionary Fraternity, which hastened to fill the gaps. Thus, the work is progressing steadily. The iconostasis is being made, the power supplies are being installed, and next comes paving .
Also, in Burkina Faso the number of our believers is slowly increasing. They are temporarily served by the priests of the Ivory Coast.
† Petros of Accra
