Postal Address: St. Andrew The Apostle Parish, Ahenema Kokoben
Post Office Box KS 13838, Kumasi, Ghana, West Africa
Office Contact: 024 845 1582
E-mail Address: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Pastor: Very Rev. Fr. Paul Kwaku Davor
Associate: Fr. Gerard Kofi Massey,Fr. Emmanual Addai and Fr. Mark Nti-Karikari
Catechist: Mr. Joseph Benjamin Dapaah and Mr. Peter Oppong Sakyi
Sunday Masses: Main Station – 6:30am St. Andrew The Apostle Catholic Church, Ahenema Kokoben.
Out-stations: 9:00am St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, Ampabame II
9:00am St. Anthony Catholic Church, Bebu
7:30am St. Augustine Catholic Church, Atwima Brofoyedu
6:00am Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, Afratia
6:00am Divine Mercy Catholic Church, YaNaa-Ampabame II
9:30am Our Lady of Assumption Catholic Church, Bekwamin
7:30am St. Paul The Apostle Catholic Church, Kotwi
6:00am St. Thomas Aquianas Catholic Church, Sakora Park
Weekday Masses:
Main station: St. Andrew The Apostle Catholic Church, Ahenama Kokoben.
6:00am: Wednesday, Thursday and Friday
7:00pm Tuesday
Out-stations:
Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
Morning Ampabame II – 5:30am
Kotwi - 5:30am Bebu -5:30am Brofoyedu-5:30am Ampabame II – 5:00am
Evening Bebu - 7:00pm
Sakora Park – 7:00pm Ampabame II -7:00pm
Afratia – 6:30pm Kotwi – 7:00am
Bekwamin – 7:00pm Brofoyedu – 7:00pm
YaNaa – 7:00pm
Benediction: First Sunday of every month.
Confession: Accessible at any time.
Out Stations: St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, Ampabame II
St. Anthony Catholic Church, Bebu
St. Augustine Catholic Church, Atwima Brofoyedu
Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, Afratia
Divine Mercy Catholic Church, YaNaa-Ampabame II
Our Lady of Assumption Catholic Church, Bekwamin
St. Paul The Apostle Catholic Church, Kotwi
St. Thomas Aquianas Catholic Church, Sakora Park
Short History:
Since time immemorial the few Catholic faithful’s at Ahenema Kokoben used to attend church services at Kronkromase near Atasemanso. When in the year 1952 when the Catholic Church established Opoku Ware Secondary School where there was a chaplaincy, members diverted and started attending mass at Opoku Ware at Santasi. They included Nana Theresa Mansah, Mad. Akua Forkuo, Mad. Mary Manu, Mad. Mary Donkor and her sister Grace Adomah plus some few others. They are all of the blessed memory.
This continued until the early 1960’s when some teachers posted to the local Primary School at Ahenema Kokoben were found to be Catholics, namely Mr. Oteng Amankwaa and Mr. Patrick Antwi. These two teachers organized some school children, gave them some Bible lessons and catechism to begin the foundation of the Catholic Church at Ahenema Kokoben. The first church was christened Saint Patrick. The members met at a classroom at the local primary school for worship and teachings. It is worth to note that at that time the whole Ahenema Kokoben comprised a few small conjoined houses at old town on the old Kumasi – Bekwai road. The new Town was composed of only five houses, the school buildings and a cocoa shed (Adikan co-operative cocoa shed, now converted to a police station).
The first batch of members to be baptized was thirty – seven in member (37), mostly school children with only one adult (John Kwaku Nsiah). The baptism took place on 9th December, 1964 at Ahenema Kokoben by an expatriate and first Parish Priest at Suntreso, Rev. Fr. G.V.D Leeuw. The sacrament of the Holy Communion followed on 13th December, 1964 at Ahenema Kokoben.
When the two teacher - foundation layers were transferred from Ahenema Kokoben School, the mantle fell on Opanin Kwaku Nsiah who led members to meet at different houses at different times, depending upon the availability of enough space.
Unfortunately, some years later John Kwaku Nsiah moved to settle at Sankore in the Ahafo Region to do farming. The church from that time went into hibernation from 1974.
By the grace of God, around the year 1975 one of the first children to be baptized, Andrew Kwaku Poku began reviving the church when members started worshiping at the local primary school building. The membership started increasing rapidly, but the whole administration rested solely on the shoulders of Mr. Andrew Kwaku Poku. He re-named the church St. Andrew’s. The introduction of societies like the C.Y.O attracted several youths into the church and it grew in faith and in numbers. Therefore, there was the need for others to come and help. Mr. Poku appealed to others to Catholics from home working outside to come and help. By the grace of God, his appeal yielded positive results. Some Catholics outside from home obtained transfers from their respective places of work to help.
They included Mr. George Adjei-Mensah (Choir master) Mr. J.B. Dapaah (Catechist & Secretary) Mr. Joseph Afriyie (Asst. Catechist), Mr. Murphy Appiagyei (Asst. Choir Master) and some others also came on board. Mr. Andrews Adu-Poku was elected first President.
The church gained much popularity when she started enacting the crucifixion of our Lord Jesus Christ during Easter Festivities. This attracted several people from surrounding towns around Ahenema Kokoben during Good Fridays.
The church in 1989 acquired 2.5 acre-piece of Land with lease at Ahenema Kokoben from the Manhyia Palace for future development.
The church which was initially under Suntreso Parish was later placed under Nsima Parish when the latter was curved out Suntreso Parish in 1995.
Members who have held the post of Presidents are as follows:
1. Mr. Andrews Adu-Poku (Driver)
2. Mr. Rexy Owusu – Sekyere (Rtd. Police Officer)
3. Mr. Dominic Wiafe (Businessman)
4. Mr. George Adjei-Mensah (Rtd. Educationist)
5. Mr. Eric Boampong (Businessman)
6. Mrs. Rose Adu-Poku (Trader, 2002 to 2013)
7. Mr. Thomas Kwaku Forkuoah (Rtd. Police Officer)
8. Mr. Peter Yaw Gyamfi (Teacher)
9. Mr. Agyemang- Duah (School Administrator)
In the year 2001, Ahenema Kokoben was granted the status of a Rectorate and in 2003 elevated to a full Parish. The out-stations initially, were Brofoyedu, Bebu, Ampatame No.2 and Kotwi. In the year 2023, four (4) new out-stations were opened at St. Thomas Aquinas, Sakora Park at Ahenema Kokoben, Our Lady of Assumption, Bekwamin, Divine Mercy, Yaa Naa at AmpabameNo.2 and Blessed Sacrament, Afratia-Adumasa.
The priests who have headed the Parish are as follows:
1. Rev. Fr. Anthony Clement Amofah
2. Rev. Fr. Francis Kwaku Boateng
3. Rev. Fr. John Kenneth Coffie
4. Rev. Fr. Paul Kwaku Davor
The parish has also hosted some Associate Pastors including:
1. Rev. Fr. Darko Francis
2. Rev. Fr. Lawrence Baadu – Agyemang
3. Rev. Fr. Gerard Kofi Massey
4. Rev. Fr. Isaac Asare
5. Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Addai
6. Rev. Fr. Mark Nti- Karikari