Obenyaade Circuit

Beginning of Methodism in Ghana

The Methodist Church Ghana came into existence as a result of the missionary activities of the Wesleyan Methodist Church which was inaugurated with the arrival of the Rev’d Joseph Rhodes Dunwell in January, 1835, in the Gold Coast (Ghana).

Like the mother Church, the Methodist Church in Ghana was established from a core of persons with Anglican background. Missionaries, notably Roman Catholics and Anglicans, had come to the Gold Coast from the 15th Century, but their activities did not see much success.

What remained was a school established in Cape Coast by the Anglicans during the time of Rev’d Philip Quaque, a Ghanaian priest. Those who came out of this school had scriptural knowledge and materials supplied by the Society for the Propagation of Christian Knowledge.

It was a member of one of such Bible study groups, William De-Graft, who requested Bibles through Captain Potter of the ship called Congo. Through Captain Potter’s instrumentality, not only were Bibles sent, but also a Methodist missionary.

In the first eight years of the Church’s life, 11 out of 21 missionaries who worked in the Gold Coast died. Thomas Birch Freeman, who arrived in 1838, pioneered missionary expansion from the coast to Kumasi (1838–1857) and also supported missions in Badagry and Abeokuta in present-day Nigeria.

Key Developments

• By 1854, the Church was organised into circuits forming a District under Rev’d T. B. Freeman as Chairman.
• In 1878, Synod steps confirmed by the British Conference led to division into two Districts for effective ministry.

Districts (1878)

• Gold Coast (Ghana) District — Rev’d T. R. Picot (Chairman)
• Yoruba and Popo District — Rev’d John Milum (Chairman)

Northern Ghana Mission

Methodist evangelisation of Northern Ghana began in 1910. Missionary work was finally established in 1955, with Rev. Paul Adu as the first indigenous missionary of Northern Ghana.

Autonomy

In July 1961, the Methodist Church in Ghana became autonomous and was called the Methodist Church Ghana, based on a Deed of Foundation enshrined in the Constitution and Standing Orders of the Church.

Current Snapshot

• Total membership: 600,000+
• Dioceses: 17
• Societies: 3,814
• Pastors: 1,066
• Local Preachers: 15,920
• Lay Leaders: 24,100

Background and Formation (1992)

When the creation of a new District to be carved out of the then Accra District was proposed by the Reverend Victor Buer Titrikku Nartey-Tokoli, Chairman and General Superintendent of Accra District, an Ad Hoc Committee was constituted and held its first meeting in October 1992 to work out the modalities for establishing the Tema District.

Ad Hoc Committee Membership

Process and Inauguration

• The creation of the Tema District remained on the agenda of the Accra Standing Committee through multiple stages.
• In 1996, the Accra Synod forwarded a memorandum to the 1996 Conference of the Methodist Church Ghana held at Ebenezer Chapel, Winneba.
• The Conference accepted that a new District comprising Tema, Tema North, Kpone, Awudome, Ada, Ho, Peki, and Somanya be carved out of the Accra District.
• A Provisional Synod was to be held when conditions were fulfilled, and the area was to be known as Tema District.
• Following the Provisional Synod votes, Rev. Dr. Seth A. Aryee was elected as the first Chairman and General Superintendent.
• The 1997 Annual Conference approved the results, and the new District was inaugurated on 22 February 1998.
• In 2000, the Church adopted a Biblical pattern of episcopacy; Chairmen and General Superintendents became known as Bishops with the title Right Reverend.

Chairman & General Superintendent (Tema District)

Bishops of Tema Diocese

Lay Chairmen

Secretaries of the Synod

Diocesan Honorary Treasurers

Achievements

• Increase in circuits: 8 circuits (1997) to 15 circuits (2016)
• Created dioceses: Somanya Diocese (2003); Ho Diocese planned for creation (2020)
• Infrastructure: Mother’s Inn at Tema General Hospital (2015)
• Conference hosting: Hosted the 7th Biennial / 45th Methodist Conference (2012)
• Land development: Walled 20 acres for proposed Retreat Centre at Prampram
• Residence: Built Bishop’s Manse at Dawhenya (August 2012)
• Growth: Christian Community increased from 23,447 (1997) to 38,387 (2016)

Future Plans

• Intensify evangelism and church planting, including societies already planted in the Volta Region.

History of Tema Obenyaade Circuit

The Tema Obenyaade Circuit was inaugurated on 7 March 2007. The first Superintendent Minister of the circuit was Very Rev. Samuel A. Dadzie, while the current Superintendent Minister is Very Rev. Major Daniel Ebo Ephraim (Rtd.).

Superintendent Ministers

Circuit Stewards

Circuit Lay Movement Chairmen

Circuit Evangelists

• Sis. Emelia Quaison-Sackey
• Bro. Francis Atule

Societies in the Circuit

• Immanuel (Circuit Head) — Community 11
• Ebenezer — Community 7
• Freeman — Community 12

Membership Summary

• As at December 2011: 1,416 (M: 543, F: 873)
• As at Q2 2025: 1,464 (M: 563, F: 901)