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Nine ministers of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG) and one lay person have received Doctor of Ministry Degree from the New York Theological Seminary in the United State of America after they successfully completed the three year programme.

The New York Theological Seminary over the weekend organized an Academic Hooding Ceremony for the graduating candidates at the Christ Congregation of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Akropong Akuapem.

The ceremony was organized in collaboration with the  Akrofi-Christaller Institute (ACI) of Theology, Mission and Culture, established by the Presbyterian Church of Ghana and is accredited by the National Accreditation Board of the Ministry of Education (Ghana) as a postgraduate research institution, with a Presidential Charter.

Addressing the granduands, the Rector of the ACI, Rev Dr B.Y Quarshie expressed concerned about flooding of many doctorate degrees in Ghana from unaccredited institutions.

He said the situation is worrying and therefore advised the public to be cautious in their dealings with such institutions and verify the accreditation status and degree-awarding powers of the institutions to avoid any embarrassing fallouts.

Rev Dr Philip Laryea, who represented the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, congratulated the graduands and urged them to use the academic knowledge acquired to help build the Church.

Rev. Dr.  Eleanor J.M.  Moody-Shepherded, Professor of Women’s Studies at the New York Theological Seminary and leader of the faculty members also congratulated them and said, it was the first time such a graduation ceremony had taken place in the region of Africa.

The graduating students were; Rev Dr. Kwabena Aboagye, Rev Dr Kofi Amfo-Akonnor, Chairperson for Ashanti Presbytery of the PCG, Rev Dr Yaw Danso, Nima District Minister, Rev Dr George Opare Kwapong, Chairperson for Akuapem Presbytery and Rev Dr Benson  Nkansa-Kyeremateng, Principal, Presbyterian College of Education, Kyebi.

The rest were; Rev Dr Cynthia Musu Boama of Presbyterian Women’s Centre, Abokobi, Rev Dr Anokye Nkansah, Chairperson for Asante Akyem Presbytery, Rev Dr Erasmus Nii-Bonne Odonkor, and General Secretary of the Bible Society of Ghana, Rev Dr William Quaye, Ga Presbytery Clerk and Dr Salomey Ansah Asantewa, a retired Educationist.

Rev Dr George Opare Kwapong’s Doctoral Thesis was adjudged the best and received the Excellent in Ministry Award. This award is presented annually to a graduating Doctor of Ministry candidate who has submitted a Demonstration Project which in the judgment of the faculty makes an original, relevant and significant contribution to the theory and practice of ministry as judged by the standards of the profession.