Kenyasi II

Name of Parish: St. Peter
Location: Kenyasi
Name of Priest: Frs. Samuel Osei Kuffour - PP, Sampson Badu - Associate

Outstations: Kenyasi I, Kenyasi III, Koforidua, Camp, Kramokrom, Yawbrefo, Dokyikrom, Yawusukrom, Akosakrom, Asempaneye, Dokyikrom.
Contacts: Box 63, Kenyasi II.

ST PETER CATHOLIC CHURCH – KENYASI II

St. Peter Catholic Church at Kenyasi II was established in 1920 by a Fante named Mr. Ankrah, from Cape Coast residing at Dwinyama in collaboration with the leaders from Kenyasi I and II. He became the first catechist as he used to trek with the Priests from Kumasi. The early church was a joint church which comprised members from Kenyasi I and II until 1924 when the church at Kenyasi I was formed. It was located at where the two towns share boundary and was named St. Peter Catholic Church Kenyasi. Other founding members were; Kofi Meinka, the first President, Nana Yaw Adu, Kwadwo Boadu, Kwaku Ababio, and Peter Kwame Adu, who later became a President, Joseph Gyamfi and his wife Mary Biani and others. The priest at that time was Fr. Rothoff, a Dutch from Kumasi and stationed at Dwinyama.

In 1925, the church almost collapsed when the members found out Christian laws were very strict and also contrary to their customs. Also, there were land issues with the Northerners (especially the zongo community) with their leader Too Naaba against Agya Dadie, the strong man for the church. In 1931, the church became fully established when the case was settled and the land in question given back. In 1935, some of the first converts who received baptism through Fr. Leeuw were Matthew Nkrumah, Joseph Kwame Bour, who became a Vice President, Agnes Nyamekye, Elizabeth Yaa Yaa and Simon Kumah. With these new converts, it became necessary to build a chapel and Peter Kwame Adu gave his cocoa farm for five years to finance the building. Throughout this period the station was under Bechem Parish.

In 1954, the church became an outstation of Mim and the number started increasing so the members decided to put up a more spacious building. Permission was given by Fr. Laar, who was the Parish Priest and Peter Yaw Kwarteng who was not a Catholic, paid fifty pounds towards the building and hence his name was put on the foundation stone. William Kofi Kwarteng and Francis Osei Boahen are the two elders who gave most of the information about the Kenyasi church.

Odeneho Nsiah Ababio, the Omanhene, a church member, in collaboration with the community gave 20.5 acres of land to the church and the school. Documentations [cadastral plan/lease] on this land had been processed during Fr. Nicholas Afriyie’s time as parish priest in 2020. In addition to the land given, an eight room apartment which used to accommodate teachers of the catholic school was given to the church. Later the church added two big halls and five rooms which had been given to some of the church members who are helping the church. Another hall being occupied now by GODCCOSS was also given to the church by the community.

In November 1973, Kenyasi was declared a Parish during the pastoral visit of Rt. Rev. James Kwadwo Owusu, the then Bishop of Sunyani. Fr. Elisha O’Shea SMA, the first Parish Priest stayed at Hwidiem hospital bungalow for some time until the mission house at Kenyasi was completed in 1974 through the efforts of Odeneho Nsiah Ababio and the church.

The first Diocesan Priest of the parish was Fr. Matthew Gyamfi in 1990 (now the Bishop of Sunyani). Fr. Gyamfi who was also a teacher at OLA Secondary School, used to attend classes and trek to nearby stations on a bicycle due to the transfer of Fr. Brian Traynor, SMA and subsequently the transfer of the Parish vehicle to Bechem where the SMA priests were operating.

Augustine Bonna was made the first Parish Catechist until his retirement in 2019. The outstations under Kenyasi when it was raised to a Parish status in 1973 were Kenyasi I, Hwidiem, Wamahinso, Acherensua, Nkasiem, Ntotroso, Mehame, Apenimadi, Gyedu, Dadiesoaba, Koforidua, Camp, Kramokrom, Amanfrom, Kenyasi III, Nkrankrom, Twabidi, Konkontireso, Donkorkrom, Kwakyekrom, Siechiem, Amomaso, Dokyikrom, Yawusukrom, Akotosu and Kwahu II

Stations of Kenyasi parish as at 2023: Kenyasi 1, Kenyasi II New Site, Kenyasi III, Koforidua, Dokyikrom, Asempanaye, Akosa, Kramokrom, Camp, Yaw Brefo, Kwakuri, Tawiakrom, Obengkrom, Bogyampa, Asamang and Kojokrom. With the increase in population in the various outstations, five parishes were created out of the main parish. Nkasiem (2002), Hwidiem (2003), Acherensua (2004), Wamahinso (2018), Ntotroso (2019)

CHURCH CHOIR /SINGING GROUPS:

It is on record that church services were led by Singing Band groups till the 1970’s. The main choir started during the time of J.M Frimpong and Teacher Pyne, who were both teachers at the R/C Middle School and Choirmasters. The choir at Kenyasi thrived during the period when George Barima Boahen [B.B. George] relocated to Kenyasi II and became the choirmaster. With hard work and dedication, the choir is now a force to reckon with in the diocese. Alexander Ameyaw, the organist, Thomas Adjei and Joseph Manu [Sarfo Vasco] have taken over after B.B George was made the Parish Music Director. Kenyasi can also boast of a strong and dynamic Dagarba choir in charge of first Masses on Sundays. There is also a Music ministry singing group. The latest singing group is the St. Bakitha Junior Choir which was started during the time of Fr. Nicholas Afriyie. This singing group comprises the youth in the church and it is being led by Alexander Ameyaw. A set of brass band instruments was outdoored on 14th March, 2021 by the church and the band is led by Ernest Owusu [Agya Owusu].

Parish priests of Kenyasi: Fr. Elisha O’Shea, SMA (1973 – 1979), Fr. Anthony Kelly, SMA (1979 – 1981), Fr. Brian Traynor, SMA (1982 – 1989), Fr. Matthew Gyamfi- First Diocesan Priest (1990 – 1991), Fr. John K. Nkrumah (1991 – 1994), Fr. Emmanuel Gyansah Tabi (1994 – 1997),Fr. Dominic Asuahene (1997 – 1998), Fr. Paul Nimo Boampong (1998 – 1999), Fr. Theophilus Akyeampong Pepra (1999 – 2003), Fr. Anthony Marfo Dwomo (2003 – 2004), Fr. Peter Nimo 2004 – 2006), Fr. George Obeng Yeboah Asuamah (2006 – 2009), Fr. Christopher Kwakye (2009 – 2011), Fr. Felix Twumasi (2011-2018), Fr. Nicholas Afriyie (2018-2020), Fr. Samuel Osei Kuffour (2020)

Priests / Religious from Kenyasi: Fr. Nelson Adjei Bediako –SMA, Fr. Elisha Manu – Diocesan Priest, Sr. Maureen Amponsah – OLA, Fr. Michael Opoku - Grenada

Parish Presidents: Peter Kwame Adu (1974 -1981), Paul Kwayie (1981 – 1995), Francis K. Kwakye (1995 – 1998), Johnson Appiah (1998 – 1999), Simon Osei Bonsu (1999 – 2003), Peter Kwarteng Amaning (2003 -2020), James Nsiah Boakye (2021)

Church Presidents: Kofi Meinka, Peter Kwame Adu, Louis Dadzie, Francis Kofi Kwakye, George Atta Adusei Snr, Theresah Afua Manu, Rebecca Sarfo, Anthony Kontor, Augustine Opoku Frimpong, Felicitas Kunnuo, Peter Kwarteng Amaning, John Abebrese Kwarteng

Catechists: Teacher Michael, Anthony Adu Lash, Micheal Manu, Augustine Bonna (Parish Catechist), Peter Kwarteng Amaning, Kwasi Matthew, Robert Bienni, Paul Owusu, Augustine Kusi, Thomas Obeng Mensah, Paul Gyabra [O.C], Georgina Osei Agyeman, Callistus Taalaar, Samuel K. Mensah

SOCIETIES: Catholic Women Association, Christian Mothers’ Association, St. Theresa of the Child Jesus, Men’s Fellowship, Charismatic Renewal, Catholic Youth, Sacred Heart of Jesus, Bible Readers Association, Church Choir, Dagarba Choir, Knights of the Altar, Knights and Ladies of Marshall, Knights of St. John’s International, Singing Ministry, St. Bakitha Junior Choir