From the Winter 2008 Edition of Clippings Magazine

by Maggie Burke

Father James Opoku-Boaheng

Fr. James Opoku-Boaheng was ordained in Ghana on April 20, 1985, after five years study at the Pontifical Urban University in Rome. He comes to us after teaching high school in Ghana for 14 years.

Q: Tell us about your family.

A: I am one of thirteen children - ten surviving. My parents, who were uneducated, cleared virgin forest land as settlers and established a farm from which they supported their family. Although they had little in a material sense, they were happy. I grew up knowing my four grandparents and one great-grandmother. However, only one grandmother lived to see me ordained. My “Natal” name is Kofi, meaning “male born on Friday”.

Q: How would you describe the education system in Ghana?

A: The “Mission” schools are supported by the government but run by various Christian denominations. I attended a 6 year primary school where I learned English. Until recently, the education of girls was not encouraged. I fear the emphasis to reverse that trend is resulting in the neglect of boys’ education.

Q: When did you know you wanted to be a priest?

A: I don’t know; there was no specific moment. My uncle told me that my father told him I said, “I want to be a priest” at age 4!

Q: What languages do you speak?

A: I speak Twi, the language of my parents, and English, the official language of Ghana. While studying in Rome, I tried to learn a new language every summer. I speak Italian, some French, but have mostly forgotten Spanish and German. I have a chance to practice Spanish now with the rectory cook.

Q: How do Catholics and Muslims get along in Ghana?

A: Christians comprise about 70% of the population, Muslims about 15%. Unlike neighboring Nigeria, there is no religious conflict. Even in my father’s house, my brother, a convert to Islam, lives peacefully with the others.

Q: How would you describe Catholicism in Ghana?

A: We have one priest for every 2,500 Catholics. My diocese, Konongo-Mampong, is made up of 2 parishes in two towns. The cathedral and seminary are in Mampong. A parish has a church or “main-station” with usually 2 Masses on Sunday and 10 or so “outstations” which have a priest visit one Sunday in 10 weeks. The people find a way to get to the priest if they want. Catechists play an important role in the outstations. There are no permanent deacons. (Fr. James lights up when describing how the people truly celebrate mass with music, singing, and dancing. They are not just attending Mass as spectators. The average Liturgy of the Eucharist is about 2 hours.)

Q: Tell us about your country.

A: Ghana, one of 50 some countries in Africa, is about the size of Britain. The capital is Accra. The climate is tropical, lying just north of the equator. The dam at Lake Volta, the world’s largest artificial lake, is the country’s main source of electrical power. Natural resources include gold, lumber, manganese and bauxite. Principal crops are cocoa, cassiava, peanuts, and coffee. Yams and plantains (fufu) are part of the typical diet with some fish and little meat. Life expectancy in Ghana is less than 60 years, but infant mortality is on the decline and the AIDS rate is low, about 2.6% to 3%.

Q: Tell is about Ghana’s history.

A: Ghana, inhabited since 4,000 B.C., was ruled by the Asante Kingdom in the north until the Portuguese arrived in 1492. I am a member of the Asante people, a tribal group. There were many colonial masters over time, the last being the British, who granted independence to Ghana in 1957. Internal power struggles and coups followed until a peaceful presidential election was achieved in 1992. After 50 years of independence, Ghana can no longer blame its problems on colonization. Catholicism was successfully introduced to the Ghanian people in 1880 by two French missionaries.

Q: Have you been in the U.S. before?

A: I visited the U.S. during three summers while teaching school in Ghana. I worked in Brooklyn in 1998, Lake Katrine in Westchester in 2000, and Minneapolis-St. Paul in 2002. I’m getting ready for winter, but not looking forward to it.