The Koforidua Diocesan Health Service (DHS) has a New Director effective 1^st April 2025 in the person of Rev. Fr. Ebenezer Kenneth Abban, PhD

CONGRATULATIONS Sir!!!

SHORT PROFILE OF THE AG. DIRECTOR OF DHS
Rev. Fr. Abban is a healthcare person with a considerable number years of experience in the healthcare industry. Prior to his entry into the healthcare business, he had worked for several years and is skilled in the management of a not-for-profit government/private organizations and versatile in strategic thinking, planning and controlling. He is a public speaker and holds unto attention to details, empathy and innovation as trademark. He loves to read any readable material.

He studied philosophy, theology and spirituality for his initial parchment before proceeding to the United States of America for higher education in Healthcare Management; a program he successfully completed and graduated with a Master of Business Administration
focused in Healthcare Management from St. Joseph’s University, New York. Also, he holds a PhD in Hospital Administration.

Fr. Abban is an author and a writer; he has six publications to his credit in a peer-reviewed international journal of the Texila American University. Some of his works are,

Assessment of the impact of Delayed Reimbursement by the National Health Insurance Scheme on the Supply Chain Management of St. Dominic Hospital, Akwatia, Ghana;

Impact of Length of Stay on both Financial Health and Medical Outcomes of Mission Hospitals in Rural Ghana;

Covid-19 Gateway for ICT Integration; The case of St. Dominic Hospital, Akwatia;

Financial Health Affects Medical Outcomes; the Case of Some Mission Hospitals in Ghana.
He is an experienced steward in management and a catholic priest with 22 years of demonstrated history in the religious and healthcare institutions. He is incardinated in the Catholic Diocese of Koforidua and has served in various capacities in the Diocese since his ordination in 2003 into the Catholic Priesthood. He is a member of the Priest Senate of the Diocese since 2017. Again, he serves as the President of the Koforidua Diocesan Priests’ Association (KODPA) since 2021.

Since 2017, he has served as the Facility In-charge and Administrator of St. Dominic Catholic Hospital, Akwatia; a secondary facility credentialed by both the Health Facilities Regulatory Authority (Hefra) and the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS). Under his watch, the Hospital has migrated from primary through secondary and recently to a teaching facility with an accreditation from the Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons to train doctors in both the modular and the three-years residency membership programme in Family Medicine. Besides, the Hospital has the accreditation to train in the modular programmes of Surgery, Family  Medicine and Obstetrics and Gynaecology. Further, the Hospital is accredited by the Medical and Dental Council to train house officers in all the four disciplines.

Congratulations to Rev. Fr. Ebenezer Kenneth Abban, PhD.

In a profound and uplifting ceremony in Rome, the Holy Father has declared the year 2025 as a Jubilee Year, a remarkable event that occurs once every 25 years. This Jubilee Year carries the meaningful theme of “Pilgrims of Hope,” symbolizing a collective pilgrimage towards healing and renewal amid a world burdened by the ravages of war, the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the critical climate crisis that disproportionately impacts the most vulnerable communities.

Pope Francis opened the Holy Door of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome as a powerful and symbolic gesture to herald this occasion. This sacred act serves as a significant portal for pilgrims, guiding them towards forgiveness and a fresh start, and marks the official beginning of the Jubilee Year 2025 with deep spiritual resonance (Vatican News). 

Most Rev. Joseph Afrifah-Agyekum, the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Koforidua, recently commemorated his 70^th birthday on 22^nd December 2024 at St. Andrew Catholic Church, Akyem Swedru, with an event characterized by joy and purposeful intent. This occasion was utilised as a platform to generate funds for the establishment of a retirement home designated for future bishops within the Diocese.

The Catholic Diocese of Koforidua is delighted to announce that the Most Rev. Joseph Afrifah-Agyekum, our Bishop, will celebrate his 70^th birthday – a wonderful milestone!
On 22^nd December 2024, the Planning Committee and the entire Koforidua Diocese invite you to join us in honouring this special occasion at St. Andrew Catholic Church, Akim Swedru. 

In recognition of the Bishop's remarkable service and as part of the celebrations, the Diocese is initiating a fundraising effort to create a retirement home for him. The contributions gathered during this event will help provide the foundational support for this meaningful project.

As it is customary for a Catholic bishop to retire at the age of 75, we believe it is essential to thoughtfully consider the arrangements for the Bishop’s future residence.
We sincerely appreciate your presence at this event, as well as any donations you are able to provide toward this significant initiative.

Thank you for your support!
For any further enquiries, please feel free to reach out to Rev. Fr. Ebenezer K. Abban, PhD, the Chairman of the Planning Committee, at +233 24 664 7025.
Kindly watch this video on our Facebook Page for more information. 

The first of the biannual general meeting of the Koforidua Diocesan Priests' Association (KODPA) took effect from 12th–13th June 2024 at the Diocesan Pastoral and Training Centre (DPTC), Koforidua.
The august meeting saw the attendance of about seventy priests, including the Bishop of the Diocese, Most Rev. Joseph Afrifah-Agyekum.

Among the agenda of this convocation included discussions on Mental Health Seminar, 2025 Provincial Congress, Common Liturgical Aberration, and a Stewardship Report (by the 2021-2024 Executives) and Election of New Executives.

On Sunday 26th December, 2021, the St. George Catholic Cathedral Parish rejoiced over the induction of a new Cathedral administrator, Very Rev. Fr. Joseph Afum Attah Asumadu, into office by Rev. Msgr. Francis Twum-Barimah, the Vicar General of the Catholic Diocese of Koforidua.

It was all joy and gratitude to God when the colorful event took place during a Eucharistic celebration to mark the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass was presided over by Rev. Msgr. Francis Twum Barimah and concelebrated by six other priests from the Diocese. In attendance were some Religious Sisters, family members, Parish Pastoral Council (PPC), parishioners and friends of the new Administrator who came from other sister parishes.

As part of his three days visit to Koforidua Diocese to participate in the activities of the climax of the Year of St Joseph, the Apostolic Nuncio to Ghana, His Excellency Most Rev. Henryk Jagodzinski, paid a historic visit to Pope John XXIII Minor Seminary at Effiduase-Koforidua and interacted with the Seminarians, Staff and Formators, and had Evening Prayer with them. This took place on Friday 10th December, the very day of the Nuncio’s arrival in the diocese.

In his Homily the Papal Nuncio highlighted St Joseph being described as Pope Francis in his Apostolic letter ‘Patris Corde – With a paternal heart’ as "Beloved father, father of tenderness, in obedience and hospitality; father of creative courage, worker, always in the shadows". He mentioned that Pope’s letter declaring the year of St Joseph was published on 8th December, 2020 on the occasion of 150th anniversary of the proclamation of the Bridegroom of Mary as the patron of the Catholic Church.

In the Wisdom of the Chief Shepherd of the Catholic  Diocese of Koforidua, Most Rev.  Joseph Afrifah-Agyekum in consultation with the Priests' Council is organising a Seminar on Pastoral and Financial Matters after easing of COVID-19 restrictions.

Ordination to the priesthood is a ceremony that parishioners, religious and priests look forward to each year. As the number of priests increases, the pastoral ministry and evangelisation mission of the Church continue to enhance. The 2020 Priestly Ordination for the Catholic Diocese of Koforidua took place in the assembly hall of St. Roses Senior High Secondary School at Akwatia on Saturday 3rd October, amid strict observation of the COVID-19 protocols by all and sundry. In the colourful and well attended ordination ceremony, Most Rev. Joseph Afrifah Agyekum, the Bishop ordained three Deacons into the Holy Priesthood. The ordinandi were Rev. George Yeboah of St. Anthony Parish Akwatia, Rev. Martin Delali Atitson of St. John Parish, Nsawam and Rev. Samuel Eli Adadey of Our Lady of Lourdes Quasi-Parish, Akyem Akroso.