UE/R: Presbyterian Church of Ghana Holds 63rd Annual National Women Fellowship Delegates Conference in Bolgatanga

BY: Gladys Apuweni

The Presbyterian Church of Ghana has held its 63rd Annual National Women’s Fellowship Delegates Conference in Bolgatanga, Upper East Region, under the theme “Celebrating Our Heritage: Building on the Foundation Already Laid” with the sub-theme “Woman, A Dependable Builder.” The four-day gathering has drawn over 820 delegates from across Ghana, Europe, North America, and Australia.

Delivering the keynote address, Rev. James Kwame Awuni, Chairman of the Upper Presbytery, highlighted the invaluable contributions of the Church to the northern sector and beyond. He said the Presbyterian Church’s legacy in the Upper Regions is firmly rooted in health, education, agriculture, and social interventions that have transformed countless lives.

In the area of health,” Rev. Awuni stated, “the Church has established numerous facilities, including the only psychiatric hospital in the five northern regions, located in Bolgatanga, as well as the Bolga Eye Hospital, the Presbyterian General Hospital in Bawku, and several clinics across the Upper East and Upper West Regions. We also operate the Community-Based Rehabilitation Center in Sandema, which provides care for people living with disabilities.

He further mentioned the agricultural service stations in Langbinsi, Garu, and Sandema that have supported farmers for decades. He also acknowledged the Church’s long-standing social responsibility in Gambaga, where since the 1960s, the Presbyterian Church has consistently supported women accused of witchcraft with shelter and various interventions.

“The Presbyterian Church of Ghana is not only about preaching but also about holistic service,” Rev. Awuni emphasized, adding that these interventions embody the Church’s commitment to faith, discipline, and community development.

In his goodwill message, Hon. Donatus Atanga Akamugri, Upper East Regional Minister, commended the Presbyterian Church for its enduring contributions to the region’s social and health needs. He particularly praised the Church for establishing the Bolgatanga Eye Clinic and the Psychiatric Hospital, both of which continue to meet critical needs.

“We are grateful for your intervention in areas so dear to us. The eye clinic has been a blessing to many, especially in a time when eye related conditions are on the rise. Likewise, your establishment of a psychiatric hospital in Bolgatanga came at the right time, considering the growing mental health crisis among our youth, largely due to substance abuse. These are timely, life-changing interventions, and the people of the Upper East Region remain forever thankful,” the Minister said.

He further urged delegates to continue building on the Christ-centered foundation of the Presbyterian mission, describing the conference theme as deeply relevant to the times, and charged participants to return to their communities with renewed commitment to faith and service.

Speaking in an interview, Mrs. Philomena Akamdem, President of the Women’s Fellowship of the Upper Presbytery, described the conference as a testimony of the power and resilience of Presbyterian women. She noted that women form more than half of the Church’s population and continue to play critical roles in family, church, and nation building.

“This year, our sub-theme is ‘Woman, a Dependable Builder’ because women are builders of the home, the church, and the nation. If the home is to be built, it is through women. If the Church is to be sustained, it is through women. And if this nation is to progress, women must take their rightful role,” she said.

Mrs. Akamdem encouraged all Presbyterian women to be actively involved in church activities, noting that the Women’s Fellowship continues to empower its members through skills development, vocational training, and spiritual growth.

“We are not just gathering for the sake of it. We are equipping women to transform their homes, communities, and the nation. I want every woman to be proud of her role in this mission,” she added.

The conference, hosted at the Bolgatanga Technical University, brought together delegates from all 21 presbyteries of the Church, including Ghana’s regions, Europe, North America, and Australia. Among dignitaries in attendance were the Municipal Chief Executive of Bolgatanga, Hon.  Roland Ayoo, various reverend ministers of the Presbyterian Church, and other distinguished guests.