The 14th Graduation Ceremony of the Akrofi-Christaller Institute of Theology, Mission and Culture was held in an ecstatic display of culture and academic excellence. Family members and loved ones were present at the ceremony to celebrate with the graduating class, who were from Ghana, other African countries and the Americas. The ceremony took place at the Christ Presbyterian Church, Akropong-Akuapem on 9th January 2021. With regard to the number of graduands, this congregation is one of the largest in recent times with a total of forty-six persons conferred with degrees in the various programmes and options offered at the Institute; 38 graduands with Master of Arts in Theology and Mission (MA – Biblical Studies option, Holistic Mission and Development option, Leadership option, Pentecostal Studies option and World Christianity option), 4 graduands with Master of Theology (MTh African Christianity) and 4 graduands with Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Theology. Nine of the MA students graduated with distinction, among which were four females.
In his address to the 14th Graduation Ceremony, the Rector of the Institute, Rev. Prof. Benhardt Y. Quarshie, expressed utmost gratitude to God for His steadfast love and unceasing mercies and faithfulness towards the Institute in the 2019/2020 academic year particularly in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. He recounted that all regular activities came off successfully, though some had to be rescheduled due to the pandemic; the 12th Kwame Bediako Memorial Lectures was one of such. He added that Directors have been appointed to head the four centres, of which the Centre for Early African Christianity (CEAC), Centre for Interfaith Studies and Engagement in Africa (CISEA) and Centre for Primal and Christian Spirituality (CEPACS) had been duly inaugurated. The centre yet to be inaugurated is the Centre for Gospel and Culture Engagement (CGCE). In his concluding remarks, the Rector emphasized with much appreciation the unflinching support of all local and international partners towards ACI during the pandemic.
Rev. Prof. Pashington Obeng, the Director of Culture and Education at the Pan African Heritage World Museum of the African University College of Communication, Accra was the Guest of Honor to the 14th Congregation. In his few words, he encouraged graduands not to relent in their aspiration for greater heights in their academic endeavours, and that with hard work, they will achieve more and impact their various societies. Dr. Vella Temko Ngaina, a representative of the graduating class in a brief address, recounted the rigorous and devotional characteristic of the academic programmes at the Institute. On behalf of her colleague graduands, she expressed with much gratitude the contributions and role played by the various Staff and Faculty of the Institute to their current achievements.
The Chancellor, Prof. Ablade Glover, in his closing remarks admonished all graduands and continuing students in attendance to consider Christ as their choice foundation for growth in their lives as “all other grounds outside Christ are sinking sand.” In attendance to the ceremony was the Chairman of the Institute’s Council, Mr. Kingsford Amoah and the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, the Rt. Rev. Prof. Joseph Obiri Yeboah Mante.
