In a significant development for Catholic residents in Ghana's Eastern Region, five Catholic priests have funded the construction of a new Catholic church to serve four communities in the New Juaben South Municipality. The church, named St. John Vianney Catholic Church, has a capacity of 300 and was built at a cost of GH¢1.6 million. The communities of Trom, Bornya, Korle, and Abansro will benefit from this new place of worship.
The need for a Catholic church in these communities has been long-standing, with residents previously having to travel over three miles to attend Mass at nearby churches. This journey was particularly challenging for the elderly, pregnant women, and others who struggled to find transportation on Sundays. Francisca Ayitey, a resident of Trom, recalled the difficulties she faced while pregnant, "Praise be to God, I used to go for Mass at St. Dominic from Trom with pregnancy. Getting taxis on Sunday wasn’t an easy thing."
The new church was dedicated by the Catholic Bishop of Koforidua, Most Rev. Joseph Afrifah-Agyekum, who described the initiative as exceptional. He commended the five priests for conceiving and completing the project in just eight months. The Bishop also noted that the project demonstrated that infrastructure could be delivered at a lower cost when resources were managed efficiently.
The five priests behind the project were led by Very Rev. Fr. Joseph Quainoo Aggrey, Pastoral Director and Chancellor of the Catholic Diocese of Koforidua. They were joined by Rev. Fr. Ebenezer Kenneth Abban, PhD, Rev. Fr. Michael Numekevor Jnr., Esq., Rev. Fr. Eric Evans Akahono, and Rev. Fr. Derrick Eyram Senanu. The priests contributed resources according to their respective capacities to make the project possible.
The construction of the church began on January 7, 2026, and was completed in September 2026. The project was a collective effort, with the priests making personal sacrifices to bring the vision to life. Convenor of the five priests, Very Rev. Fr. Ebenezer Kenneth Abban, acknowledged the collective sacrifice behind the project and gave special recognition to the initiator, Fr. Aggrey.
The Catholic Bishop of Koforidua emphasized that the Church must rethink its approach to expansion and plan strategically to respond to changing settlement patterns. He noted that distance had become a barrier to regular worship for some Catholics, and that the Church needed to do more to reach rapidly developing communities.
The new St. John Vianney Catholic Church adds to the existing 53 parishes and quasi-parishes in the Catholic Diocese of Koforidua. The church will provide a convenient and accessible place of worship for the growing Catholic population in the area, and will serve as a hub for spiritual and community activities.
Key points
- The five priests who funded the project were led by Very Rev. Fr. Joseph Quainoo Aggrey.
- The church was built at a cost of GH¢1.6 million and has a capacity of 300.
- The project was completed in just eight months, demonstrating efficient resource management.
