Diamondfield Ghana Conference

DGC - HISTORY

INTRODUCTION

The creation of additional fields in the Eastern Region of Ghana became necessary owing to the vast nature of the territory. This came to reality when all elders of the East Ghana Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Church met at Maranatha Multi-Purpose Camp Complex, Kukurantumi from 2nd to 4th January, 2015

It was unanimously agreed that two new fields, namely Field B and Field C, be carved out of the existing Conference. These new Fields were to have their offices at Nkawkaw and Asamankese respectively. Our new Field, now christened Diamondfield Ghana Conference, then comprised eight (8) Districts namely Asamankese North, Asamankese South, Ayirebi, Kade, Oda East, Oda West, Nsawam and Suhum.

Most of the Districts in the Diamondfield Ghana Conference can trace part of their root from Ayirebi. Records available indicate that, the late Opanyin Peter Agyekum Boadi of Akyem Ayirebi heard the Adventist message from the late Elder Ansong at Asante Bekwai. After returning to his home town in 1933, he tried to do personal evangelism of which few followers were gathered.

In 1950, Opanyin Kwasi Sene, from Akyem Aperade converted to the faith and also started a small congregation at Akyem Aperade. Opanyin M. K. Gyimah of Oda after his visit to Asante Bekwai in 1949, converted to the faith. M. K. Gyimah met Opanyin Peter Agyekum Boadi who was evangelizing at Oda and became very happy for meeting such an evangelist and they worked together. Sabbath worships were done in family houses. That little seed started sprouting at Oda and its environs.

 

FIRST CAMP MEETING

 

The first camp meeting was in 1953 under the late Pastor Essien who was District Pastor at Cape Coast. Oda was part of Cape Coast District. In 1980, Oda was carved out of Cape Coast District. Another great event started at Asamankese in the early 1950. Late Mr. S. D. Bennett-Lartey started a small Sabbath School branch after his retirement from Korle-bu Government Hospital at the Pharmacy unit. They were joined in worship by Lt. Col. Isaac Buabeng from Asamang Tamfoe and Mr. F. Ankomah-Afranie.

A Literature Evangelist, Mr. M. E. D. Ansah was transferred from Abiriw Akuapem to Asamankese to assist in the evangelistic work. After the death of Mr. S. D. Bennett-Lartey, Mr. Amoah did a very good job by bringing together some faithful ones like Alice Apea Tawiah, Elizabeth Ayeh, Leticia Lartey, Noah Appiah, R. Y. Tawiah, late Mary Kyerewaah and Madam Wilson. From this humble beginning in 1933 at Ayirebi, the Oda District at Oda has produced the following districts: Ayirebi, Oda East, Oda West, Asamankese South, Asamankese North, Kade, Ofoase and Oda North.

The other part of the history of the churches/districts that were brought together to form the current Diamondfield Ghana Conference began with the Ntoaso church in the then Abiriw district. It began when the late Master Ankra relocated his private school from Duadekyea to Ntoaso in 1952. A conversation that ensued between him, one Dr. Nartey and Madam Rebecca Aba Odum who had come to seek medical care for her sick daughter was the beginning of the seed that sprouted to form a church at Ntoaso. Master Ankra and the brethren met to study the word of God and Adventist beliefs together with the late Chief of Ntoaso at the La quarters of the village.

Madam Odum narrated what transpired at the Clinic to her husband and together they joined the small Adventist group. Master Ankra taught his pupils Christian songs and Bible verses for recitals. This inspired many people to get close and join the young Adventist family. As they prepared and got ready for baptism, including the late Shadrach Adama Dowuona, the husband of Madam Odum, the baptism was cancelled by Pastor Agboka because all those that were ready for baptism were in polygamous marriages. Afterwards, they all stopped coming to meetings of the church.

The late Pastor B. C. B. Debra, after carefully teaching the remnant, prepared them for baptism in 1956. The baptism was performed by Pastor Welch in the Densu River. The Lord added people daily to the flock until in 1961, the first camp meeting was held at Ntoaso. At the camp meeting, a ram, Bible, Hymn Book and cash was given to the chief and his elders in appreciation of a parcel of land released to be used to build a chapel for the church.

In order to sustain the gains, a request was made to parents of Hansen Road SDA Church to allow their wards to be taken to Ntoaso on weekends to boost the morale of the youth. Prominent among the youth who came were E. O. Abbey (a retired Minister), Eddie Lartey, Emmanuel Antwi, Joseph Nii Ayi Hammond, J. J. Nartey (a retired Minister) and E. O. Sackey (a retired Ministered).

The quest for further education coupled with lack of employment forced the youth to leave the town to Accra and elsewhere in order to meet their aspirations in life. As those who could read and write left the town, the membership dwindled. The Ghana Mission of SDA Church sponsored an evangelistic campaign led by Pastors H. V. A. Kumah, E. O. Abbey, M. A. Bediako and then Evangelist A. L. Ewoo.

The establishment of a church at Nsawam gave more impetus to Adventism and the message spread to nearby towns and villages. By the abundant mercies of God, from a humble beginning the district has grown and has been re-organized into 3 – Nsawam North, Nsawam South and Nsawam West Districts.

MEMBERSHIP

At the inception of the new Field, there were a total of 42 organized churches, 100 companies with a membership of 8,470.

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  • Oda District was reorganized from the Cape Coast District in 1980
  • Ayirebi District was reorganized from Oda District in 1988
  • Asamankese District was reorganized from Oda District in 1984
  • Kade District was reorganized from the Asamankese District in 2000
  • The Oda District was reorganized into Oda West and East in 2003
  • Asamankese District was reorganized into Asamankese South and North in 2015
  • Ofoase District was also reorganized from Ayirebi District in 2016
  • Nsawam District was reorganized into Nsawam North, West and South in 2018
  • Oda East was also reorganized into Oda East and North in 2018
  • To facilitate the easy penetration to the Field with the three angels message (Rev. 14:6-12)
  • For efficient and effective monitoring and administration of the Field;
  • To improve upon the accessibility of Church members to Ministers and Conference

Accommodations for three officers were rented at Asamankese. These officers were the Director, Under Secretary and the Under Treasurer. The Parsonage for the Asamankese South District was renovated and is now the office of the Diamondfield Ghana Conference (then Administrative Unit) and a house was rented for the District Pastor.

The Southern Ghana Union Conference (SGUC) of Seventh-day Adventist Church, at its Executive Committee meeting on 22nd October, 2015, officially voted to accept the Field to operate as an Administrative Unit. During the SGUC’s session held at Valley View University, Oyibi, it was voted on 20th November, 2015, that the Officers of the new Field be asked to officially start operations in January, 2016.

For easy administration and co-ordination of departmental programs, the Field has been grouped into two sectors. These are:

  1. Asamankese Sector: Asamankese South, Asamankese North, Nsawam South, Nsawam West, Nsawam North, Suhum and Kade.
  2. Oda Sector: Oda West, Oda East, Oda North, Ayirebi and Ofoase.

During the Administrative Unit era the following were appointed directors of Ministries/Departments.

Pastor Harrison Addai Baffour: Personal Ministries, Sabbath School, Stewardship, Ministerial Association Secretary.

Pastor Shadrack Kwame Appiah: Health and Temperance, Adventist Youth Ministries, Music, Adventist Muslim Relations.

Mrs. Olivia Anim: Women’s Ministries, Children’s Ministries, Education.

Pastor Alex Abugyimah: Publishing Ministries, Family Life Ministries, Communication.

Pastor Seth Asare Nyarko: Adventist Chaplaincy Ministries.

Victoria Annor:  Global Mission.

A 15 member Steering Committee which comprised the following were also appointed to cater for the objectives of the Administrative Unit:

  1. Pastor Seth Asare Nyarko – Chairman
  2. Pastor Alex Abugyimah – Secretary
  3. Miss Victoria Annor
  4. Pastor Harrison Addai Baffour
  5. Pastor Shadrach Kwame Appiah
  6. Olivia Anim
  7. Elder Emmanuel Sintim-Aboagye
  8. Vida Dede Boateng
  9. Elder Padmore Antwi-Darkwa
  10. Elder Edward Konadu
  11. Late Elder Enoch Adarkwa Yiadom*
  12. Elder Kwadwo Boahene
  13. Edward Apeadu Ntow
  14. Robert Yaw Tawiah
  15. Charles Anim
  16. Elder Samuel Pimpong*

*After the demise of Elder Enoch Adarkwa Yiadom, Elder Pimpong was elected as a replacement.

In July 2016, based on the progress of work in the Field, a recommendation from the SGUC was made to the West-Central Africa Division (WAD) of the Seventh-day Adventist Church to survey the Field for approval to operate as a Conference. The team that came from WAD was impressed and recommended to WAD Executive Committee to vote into action the creation of the Diamondfield Ghana Conference (DGC).

From March 15-18, 2017, the DGC held its Commencement Session and the following persons were elected to steer the affairs of the DGC.

  1. Pastor Seth Asare Nyarko President
  2. Pastor Alexander Wiredu Abugyimah Executive Secretary
  1. Miss Victoria Annor Treasurer
  2. Pastor Harrison Addai Baffour Ministerial Association Secretary, Family Life Ministries
  3. Pastor Emmanuel Osei-Bonsu Publishing Ministries, Adventist Muslim Relation
  4. Osmond Amponsah Asiamah Children’s Ministries
  5. Olivia Anim Women’s Ministries
  6. Pastor Shadrach Kwame Appiah Adventist Youth Ministries/Music
  7. Pastor Ernest Kwaku Ofosu Adventist Chaplaincy Ministries, PARL, Communication
  8. Pastor Charles Kwaku Boama Personal Ministries, Sabbath School, VOP/ SOP
  9. Pastor Michael Birikorang Baidoo Stewardship/Trust Services

In addition to the above a 19 member Executive Committee was elected for the Field. The members are:

  1. Pastor Seth Asare Nyarko – Chairman
  2. Pastor Alex Abugyimah – Secretary
  3. Victoria Annor
  4. Pastor Harrison Addai Baffour
  5. Pastor Charles Kwaku Boama
  6. Pastor Michael Birikorang Baidoo
  7. Pastor Ernest Kwaku Ofosu
  8. Olivia Anim
  9. Vida Dede Boateng
  10. Edward Apeadu Ntow
  11. James Appiah
  12. Vida Coker
  13. Robert Yaw Tawiah
  14. Francis Gyimah
  15. Charles Anim
  16. Pastor Enoch Kusi Boadum
  17. Pastor Amaniampong Danso Asante
  18. Godfred Anim Nyarko
  19. Oscar Abenney Yeboah

For easy administration of the Districts, some large Districts have been reorganized. As a result, there are now twelve (12) Districts with Sixty-four (64) organized Churches and 123 companies as well as a total membership of 11,738. 

DISTRICTS
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These twelve (12) Districts are:

  1. Asamankese North
  2. Asamankese South
  3. Ayirebi
  4. Kade
  5. Nsawam North
  6. Nsawam South
  1. Nsawam West
  2. Oda East
  3. Oda North
  4. Oda West
  5. Ofoase
  6. Suhum

We hope that God will give us strength and means to do more to spread the gospel even beyond our catchment area.

Diamondfield Ghana Conference was organized in 2017. It was formerly part of East Ghana Conference. Diamond Field Ghana Conference consists of several districts and municipal assemblies of the Eastern Region of the Republic of Ghana.

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