Brief History of the Presbytery
The Asante Kingdom became more prominent with the arrival of the Rev. Fritz Ramseyer and his colleagues as war booty after the Adubofo military campaign in the late 1890’s. Mission work could not commence largely because of the unstable conditions at the time. For instance during that period all the missionaries took refuge in Kumasi Fort for not less than three months before they could escape. The locals were suspicious of the whites who had arrived not long after the British Colonial Authorities had emerged.
Apart from preaching spree in the surrounding neighbourhood where a few converts could be made, many of the converts had scattered for fear of their dear life. All the same the few dedicated and committed Ministers, Catechists, Evangelists, Deaconess, and volunteers shared the message faithfully, in spite of problems like lack of personnel resources, reliable transport and opposition from traditional religious personnel. A few converts were made thereby starting what was to be a new generation of Church members.
Schools were opened essentially to teach pupils the three R’s but in the process a few more converts were also made through education. Agricultural extension work and health delivery were media in reaching out to the locals particularly at a time when scientific medicine was hard to come by in communities.
Organisations
Records have it that by 1923 the Singing Band had been formed. Although it hasn’t made the corresponding progress as the premiere organisation, it is greatly sought after when it comes to the provision of music numerous congregations. On the other hand, the Women’s Fellowship, the first in the Presbyterian Church started in 1937 but was formally inaugurated and dedicated in 1939 by Rev’d M. A. Obeng, the then District Minister of Ramseyer Church in Kumasi. The organisation has enjoyed great patronage of women in the Church and remains consistently a popular organisation with the largest number of women joining. It has remained very supportive of the Church and the Presbytery stand to benefit from its various activities. The Bible Study and Prayer Group has been instrumental in the Church planting and expansion of the Presbyterian Churches in the rural and urban centres since 1966.
Unlike the first two organisations, the Men’s Fellowship is a recent one and finds its formation not later than 1970. It has the potential to grow and would be encouraged to do so. Other groups to be mentioned, including the Young People’s Guild, Junior Youth, Young Adults’ Fellowship, etc, are making similar strides in the life of the Presbytery. There are noticeable few other groups limited in their activities to certain parts of the Presbytery.
Asante Presbytery and other Projects
The Presbytery was late in the formation of tertiary institutions and so the establishment of Ramseyer Vocational Institute in 1972 was a welcome addition. Mention could also be made of the formation of Girls Senior High School also in Chirapatre and of late, Senior High School in Pakyi under the management of the Presbytery. Agogo Presbyterian Hospital originally within the Presbytery was handed over to Asante Akyem Presbytery. The Presbytery is now constructing a health center at Kente on the Jakobu road.
Presently the Presbytery produces Salem Water. The Salem Water projects has been said to be one of the best and hygienic water in the nation. The Presbytery is also running a Guest House and now has a Conference Hall for Meetings.
Mission to the Palace
Over the years, there has been a unstable relationship between traditional leaders and the church. The latter, has been unduly suspicious of chiefs and the stool. Efforts have been made to maintain a respectable distance in matters of admission into the church and attendance at Holy Communion. Consequently, each had remained distanced from each other. In recent years however, awareness is being created by some leaders of the church to correct this anomaly and bring the two institutions together. A good example is what has been called Mission to the Palace. Asante Presbytery has taken the initiative to bring the church and traditional leaders together to discuss issues facing the two institutions for a better understating between the two. Of late, the establishment of an annual service at the beginning of the year to organise a thanksgiving service for Otumfo Osei Tutu II, his Elders and the entire Asante kingdom has been greatly appreciated and patronage good. It is hoped that this initiative will be imitated in the other Presbyteries for a better understanding of the two institutions for the present and the future.
Leadership Provision
A number of spiritual giants have been associated with the Presbytery over the years. Names of Reverend Ministers that readily come to mind are the following: – Moderators- E.M.L Odjidja; G.K Sintim-Misa; Daniel Koranteng; Samuel Prempeh, Yaw Frimpong-Manso, Dr. Kofi Effah Ababio, Otuo Acheampong, Dr. Kwabena Opuni-Frimpong, Kofi Amfo Akonnor and Benson Osafo Kantanka. All of them served and some still serving at the top hierarchy of PCG.
The Presbytery with its achievements in the past and present deserve to be commended. The future however, looks bright depending largely on the leadership and the motivation of the members to achieve greater laurels for the Master who has sent them.