Kumasi North Diocesan Guild Makes History With Inaugural Biennial Conference

‘𝑾𝒂𝒍𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑾𝒐𝒓𝒅’: 240 𝒅𝒆𝒍𝒆𝒈𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒔 𝒈𝒂𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒇𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒅𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒇𝒆𝒍𝒍𝒐𝒘𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒑, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒔𝒑𝒊𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒖𝒂𝒍 𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒆𝒘𝒂𝒍

𝗞𝗨𝗠𝗔𝗦𝗜 – The atmosphere at the Freeman Centre Hotel told the story before a single formal session had begun.

Delegates arriving for the Kumasi North Diocesan Guild’s first-ever Biennial Conference weren’t just checking into a church programme. They were walking into history.

From Thursday, April 23 to Sunday, April 26, 2026, the Wesley College of Education in Kumasi played host to 240 registered delegates drawn from 16 out of the 17 circuits with Guild establishments across the diocese. The theme, drawn from 2nd Timothy 3:16-17, was “Walking in the Word; Equipped for Every Good Work” – and by all accounts, those who gathered did exactly that.

The numbers told part of the story: ninety-three males, one hundred and thirty females, and ten juveniles. But anyone who was there will tell you the numbers never capture the full picture.

For the first time in the diocese’s history, circuits were allowed to register their Circuit Chaplains as delegates. Six circuits seized the opportunity: Very Rev. Cosmos Kabaya (Nsima), Very Rev. Alice Owusu Afram (Bantama), Rev. Dr. Daniel Awotwe-Mensah (Abuakwa), Rev. Samuel Bentum Arthur (Bohyen), Rev. Emmanuel Sarpong Bannor (Foase), and Rev. Samuel Adom Incoom (Asuoyeboa).

𝘼 𝙎𝙤𝙡𝙚𝙢𝙣 𝙎𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙩

The conference opened Thursday evening not with fanfare, but with remembrance.

Diocesan Chaplain, Very Rev. Samuel Dontoh, led a Memorial Service for nine departed members who had passed since the diocese’s inauguration in October 2024. They included Bro. Ebenezer Quansah (Nsima Circuit), Sis. Christiana Nkansah (Suame), Sis. Felicia Awuah (Mankranso), Bro. Mathew Gyamfi (Suame), Sis. Cecilia Gramantor (Nsima), Sis. Afia Sarpong (Suame), Bro. William Osei Amankwah (Foase), Sis. Mary Coffie (Maakro), and Bro. Osei Akoto (Suame).

The solemnity of Thursday evening gave way to the energy of Friday morning, when the Official Opening took place at the Brew Riverson Hall.

‘𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗼𝗻 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗛𝗮𝘀 𝗕𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗗𝗼𝗻𝗲’

The Rt. Rev. Jeremaiah A. Morriston, Past Winneba Diocesan Bishop presided over the ceremony. His message was direct and urgent.

“To walk in the Word, therefore, is to live a life shaped, guided, and transformed by the truth of God’s Word,” Rt. Rev. Morriston told the assembled delegates.

He leaned into the historic moment. “As members of the Guild, this theme challenges you not only to study the Word but to embody it in your conduct and service.”

“These accomplishments speak volumes about your dedication, discipline, and spiritual preparedness,” he said, urging delegates to build on the foundation being laid and continue living in unity for the success of the Diocese.

Supporting the Rt. Rev. Morriston were the Secretary of Synod, Very Rev. Kwaku Adusei Acheampong, and the Diocesan Lay Chairman, Sis. Rose Achiaa Peprah, who also serves as a Patroness of the Kumasi North Diocesan Guild.

𝗪𝗵𝗼 𝗪𝗮𝘀 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲?

Several ministers filled the rows for the Official Opening and Thanksgiving Service: Very Rev. Samuel Dontoh, Very Rev. Cosmos Kabaya, Very Rev. Alice Owusu Afram, Very Rev. Joseph Akuamoah-Sekyere, Rev. Nathaniel Dua Dodd, Rev. Henry Akwasi Adu, Rev. Philip Osei-Antwi, Rev. Samuel Bentum Arthur, Rev. Emmanuel Sarpong Bannor, and Rev. Samuel Adom Incoom, among many others.

But the gathering extended well beyond church walls.

Hon. John Darko, Esq., Member of Parliament for Suame Constituency, made an appearance. So did Dr. Kennedy Ameyaw Baah, Principal of Wesley College of Education. Local government was represented by Hon. Joyce Osei Asibey (Assemblywoman for Kronum Kyerase) and Hon. Permit Boateng (Assemblyman for Tarkwa Maakro).

The diocese’s patrons and patronesses turned out in force: Nana Amanfihene-Kyeremeh, Mr. Barima Osei Bobie, Mrs. Gifty Amoah-Menyah, Mr. Andrews Boateng, Mr. Johnson Boakye Agyemang, and the wife of Nana Boadu Agyemang.

Connexional, Past Connexional and Diocesan Guild officers also graced the occasion, including Bro. Maxwell Amoah (Connexional Chairman), Bro. Noah Bright Ayisi (Connexional Vice-Chairman), Bro. Dr. Francis Kofi Arko (Connexional Treasurer), Bro. Dr. Enoch Baah (Past Connexional Chairman and currently Kumasi Diocesan Lay Chairman) Bro. George Kofi Arko Mensah (Past Connexional Chairman), Sis. Beatrice Antwi Agyei (Past Kumasi Diocesan Guild Chairman and currently Connexional Ambassador), Bro. Sikayena Gyasi, Bro. John Karikari Asamoah (Past Kumasi Diocesan Guild Chairman), Bro. Alexander Owusu (Past Kumasi Diocesan Guild Chairman), Sis. Janet Amoateng (Past Kumasi Diocesan Guild Treasurer), and Bro. Owusu Dorme (Past Kumasi Diocesan Treasurer).

Others were Bro. George Agyapong (Kumasi North Diocesan Lay Movement Council Secretary) and executives of Kumasi Diocesan Lay Movement Council.

Representatives of the Sister Organizations, as well as representatives from the Kumasi Ambassadoria Area Dioceses, were in attendance to show their support.

𝗕𝗲𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘀

A church conference is never just about the sessions. And this one delivered.

The inter-sectional football competition became the talk of the gathering. On Saturday, April 25, at the New Bantama Astroturf Park, the Dorcas Men’s Team dismantled Galahad 3-0 in the knockout stage before securing an emphatic 3-1 victory over Wesley Men’s Team to claim the men’s trophy.

The Dorcas side showed their intent from the opening whistle, taking a 1-0 lead before the break. They stretched it to 2-0 before Wesley fought back to halve the scores. For a tense period, Wesley dominated and nearly pulled even. But Dorcas sealed it with a counterattack goal, their forward rounding three defenders before finishing.

In the women’s division, the Galahad Women’s Team clinched a slender 1-0 victory over their rivals. After a scoreless first half, Galahad grabbed the only goal needed to secure the historic win. They had reached the final by defeating Dorcas 4-2 on penalties after a goalless draw.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀, 𝗡𝗼𝘁 𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗿𝗮𝘄𝗻

There was also room for intellect.

A quiz competition saw Tepa shrug off stiff competition from Maakro and Abuakwa. Bro. Leonard Akwasi Sarpong and Bro. Ankye Eric carried the day for the Ahafo Ano North lads. Maakro’s team featured Sis. Jennifer Frimpong, while Abuakwa relied on Bro. Prince Agyemang.

When the awards were distributed, Tepa had even more reason to celebrate – the circuit was crowned Overall Best Circuit. Abuakwa took home the Most Disciplined Circuit award. Bohyen was recognized as Best Evangelism Circuit, and Bantama walked away with Most Promising Circuit honours.

𝗣𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗻

Saturday evening brought a moment of respite. A dinner was organized at the Forecourt of the Freeman Centre Hotel, delegates served buffet-style under decorations described by attendees as “scintillating” and “fit for purpose.” The Diocesan Lay Chairman, Sis. Rose Achiaa Peprah, joined executives of the Kumasi North Diocesan Lay Movement Council and several Circuit Guild Chaplains.

The conference culminated Sunday, April 26, with a Thanksgiving Service at the Bethel Methodist Chapel in Maakro. Both the top and down floors of the auditorium were filled to capacity – a fitting end to four days that felt, to many, like a beginning.

And in a symbolic passing of the torch, Maakro Circuit – which served as host for this maiden conference – handed the baton to Tepa Circuit Guild.

The 2nd Biennial Conference is expected to be held in 2028 in the Ahafo Ano North Municipal capital, about an hour’s drive from Kumasi.

For the 240 delegates who showed up not knowing quite what to expect, they left with something no subsequent conference can ever claim: they were there at the beginning.

𝗥𝗲𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗯𝘆 𝗗𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗲𝗹 𝗢𝘀𝗲𝗶