Endowment Fund established

The Kumasi Archdiocese has launched an endowment Fund for the victims of the recent accident at Abuakwa, which claimed the lives of 34 Catholics.

The fund named Abuakwa Catholic Choir Disaster Fund (ACCDF), will cater for the families of the deceased especially their Children.

Most Rev. Peter Kwasi Sarpong, Metropolitan Archbishop of Kumasi, announced this at the burial Mass of the victims at the Abuakwa Catholic School park. The Fund takes effect from May 23, 2006.

The deceased were victims of the recent accident at the Akropong Junction on the Kumasi-Sunyani stretch.
Archbishop Sarpong called on the general public to support the Fund.

He said a monument would also be built and the names of victims inscribed on it as a form of remembrance.
Payments and contributions to the Fund, he said, should be made to the Parish Priest of the St. Peter’s Parish, Abuakwa, Rev. Fr. Callistus Emenyonu, CMF; all Financial Offices in the 18 Dioceses or to the National Investment Bank (NIB) Account No. 2087, Kejetia branch.

The burial Mass, which attracted over 20,000 sympathisers was presided over by Most Rev. George Kocherry, Apostolic Nuncio to Ghana.

He was assisted by Archbishop Sarpong, Most Rev. Gabriel Anokye, Auxiliary Bishop of Kumasi; Most Rev. Joseph Osei-Bonsu, Bishop of Konongo-Mampong; Most Rev. Thomas Mensah, Bishop of Obuasi; Most Rev. Peter Atuahene, Bishop of Goaso; Most Rev. Matthew Gyamfi, Bishop of Sunyani; Most Rev. Francis Joseph Essien, Bishop of Wiawso and Most Rev. Joseph Afrifa-Agyekum, Bishop-elect of Koforidua and scores of priests from far and near concelebrating.

In attendance were the Religious, Traditional rulers, Heads of other Churches, Muslim representatives, Members of Parliament and a Government delegation.

They included Mr. S.K. Boafo, out-going Ashanti Regional Minister; Mrs. Patricia Appiagyei, Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly Chief Executive; Mr. Benito Owusu-Bio, MP for Atwima-Nwabiagya, Ms. Josephine Addoh, MP for Kwadaso and Ms. Elizabeth Agyeman, MP for Oforikrom.

Archbishop Sarpong thanked the Catholic faithful of Kumasi for responding to his request for a special collection in all parishes to defray the funeral expenses.

He thanked Sir Dr. Donkor-Fordwor, an Eminent Economist, for sponsoring the cost of the 34 coffins and other sympathizers for their donations and condolences.

Mr. Boafo, who represented President John Agyekum Kufuor, said the tragedy was a gloomy day not for only Catholics in Kumasi but for the entire Ashanti Region.

He donated ¢34 million on behalf of the government to the bereaved families.

Prior to the celebration of the burial Mass, family members of the deceased as well as sympathisers from all walks of life thronged the Abuakwa Catholic School park to catch a glimpse of the 34 caskets which were beautifully laid on benches.

Many of the mourners wailed and sobbed as they desperately searched for the caskets of their deceased relatives, with their names and pictures pasted on them.

Fr. Emenyonu, in an interview with The Standard, encouraged Christians especially Catholics to pray for the repose of the souls of the victims and continue to have faith in the Lord, urging them not to be superstitious about the unfortunate incident.

The ages of the victims of the accident range between 30 and 60. They were choristers from Abuakwa Parish, Tanoso, Atwima Agogo, Atwima Mim, Hiawu-Besease, Sepaase and Apatrapa, all outstations of Abuakwa.

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