Kwabena Opuni Frimpong is a Ghanaian academic and Presbyterian minister who served as the General Secretary of the Christian Council of Ghana (CCG), equivalent to the chief executive officer of the ecumenical organisation.[1][2] He is also a lecturer at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST).[1][3]
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Early life and education[edit]
An ethnic Asante native, Kwabena Opuni Frimpong received a diploma in theology from the Trinity Theological Seminary, Legon.[1] He earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and the study of religions at the University of Ghana, Legon.[1] He studied for his master of theology, concentrating in Christian education at the Union Presbyterian Seminary in Richmond, Virginia, where he wrote his thesis on “The relevance of Paulo Freire’s humanization education theory on the youth ministry of the Presbyterian church of Ghana”[1] He was awarded a joint PhD in African Christianity by the University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg in South Africa and Akrofi-Christaller Institute in Akropong, Ghana, and wrote his doctoral dissertation on “Theological Construction of Akan Chieftaincy In Contemporary Ghana: Perspectives on Christian Leadership.”[1]
Career[edit]
Christian ministry[edit]
Opuni Frimpong was commissioned a minister of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG) in 1991 and ordained in 1993. He has served as a church minister at the following stations: the Christ Presbyterian Church, Akropong, Trinity Congregation Kwashieman, Christ Congregation Darkuman, Nantomah Memorial Congregation Kanda, Covenant Congregation Dzorwulu, Ascension Congregation North Legon, Christ Congregation KNUST Kumasi, Oforikrom Congregation Kumasi, and Trinity Congregation Kutunse.[1]
He was also the General Youth Secretary of the Presbyterian church and coordinated the student and youth ministry. In this role, he was a member the Synod Committee and Synod Committee Executive Committee. He was a member of the following committees National Christian Education Committee, National Worship Committee and the Project Manager of the HIV/AIDS Project, an initiative started by the Presbyterian church.[1] He was the General Secretary of the National Ministers’ Conference. An advocate of interfaith dialogue, he served as Travelling Secretary of Scripture Union in the Ashanti Akim Area and later, the National Executive Committee of the Scripture Union Ghana.[1]
Opuni Frimpong was elected the Presbytery Chairperson of the Asante Presbytery in charge of 51 Districts, 776 churches, 124 pastors and 113,680 congregants. He officiated at the consecration ceremonies of church agents and catechists.[1] Under his leadership in the Asante Presbytery, the district count increased from 29 to 51. The Asante South and the Sefwi Presbyteries were carved out of the Asante Presbytery during his tenure.[1]
As chairperson the Presbytery’s Bookshop and Sales Depot, Guest House were refurbished. A new secondary school, the Pakyi Presbyterian Senior High School and a medical clinic, the Mesewam Presbyterian Clinic were also built. He initiated the “Mission to the Palace” program which was an evangelism effort targeting traditional rulers and royal courtiers in the palaces.[1]
He was appointed the General Secretary of the Christian Council of Ghana (CCG), founded on 29 October 1929. He oversaw operations and supervised 41 employees. The CCG has 31 independent churches under its membership.[1] At the CCG he partnered with several international development organisations, Bread for the World, Christian Aid, UNDP, WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA, DANIDA, UNHCR.[1] In addition, his areas of advocacy include HIV/AIDS, governance, human rights, elections, violence against women, ecumenical relation, migration and child trafficking.[1]
Academia[edit]
Since 2005, he has been a lecturer at the Department of Religious Studies at the KNUST.[1] At the university, he has served on a few statutory boards such as the University Academic Board, College of Art and Social Sciences Board, Faculty of Social Sciences Board, Department of Religious Studies Board, and Chaired the Post Graduate Admissions Interview Committee of the Department.[1] He was instrumental in the introduction of Master of Philosophy in Religious Studies program. Some courses he has taught include public theology, religion and public policy in Africa, Christianity and African culture, religion and media, African indigenous knowledge systems and Christian missions and Christian education.[1]
As a visiting fellow, Opuni Frimpong taught theology-related courses at the University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg and at the Stellenbosch University, both in South Africa.[1] He is an adjunct lecturer at the Pentecost University College, Accra, Trinity Theological Seminary Legon as well as a Moderator of the Department of Biblical Studies at the All Nations University College, Koforidua.
He served as an advisor to the Ghanaian presidency. He was a member of the Presidential Debate Committee of 2016 General Elections and the Advisory Committee of “Winner Takes All”, both sponsored by the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), a think-tank in Accra.[4] He also served on the boards of several Kumasi-based educational institutions: Prempeh College, Ramseyer Vocational and Technical Institute, Atwima Kwanwoma Presbyterian Senior High School, Pakyi and Presbyterian Girls Senior High School, Kyiriapatre.[1]
Personal life[edit]
Opuni Frimpong and his wife, Abigail have five adult children; Daniel, Abigail, Miriam, Emmanuella and Mary.[1]
Selected works[edit]
Some of his published books include:[1]
- Indigenous Knowledge and Christian Missions
- Christian Advocacy Ministry
- Vision and Missions.
Invited conferences[edit]
Kwabena Opuni Frimpong has attended the following acdemic and civic conferences:[1]
- Conference on Charismatic Challenge for Ecumenical Partnerships: Insights from different Contexts and Churches, Arusha, Tanzania. Protestant Church in Hesse and Nassau Germany and Evangelical Lutheran Church of Tanzania. Presentation topic: Pentecostalization of the Mainline Churches in Ghana: Prospects and Challenges, October 9- 14, 2011
- Conference on Churches and Citizen Mobilization in Africa, School of Theology, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa, August 2-9, 2014.
- African Union’s Agenda 2063: The African We Want Conference. All African Conference of Churches Nairobi, Kenya November 3-4, 2014
- Conference on Responding to global issues of Health and Healing: A collaborative response to the Ebola crises at Regional and National levels. World Council of Churches, AACC Nairobi, Kenya, November 24-27 2014
- Consultation for Regional Ecumenical Organizations and National Councils of Churches by World Council of Churches, AACC Nairobi, Kenya, June 2-7, 2014
- All African Conference of Churches General Secretaries Conference, Nairobi, Kenya, December 3- 7, 2013 Ecumenical Day of Reflection on Mining. Organized by Archbishop of Canterbury Lambert Palace London UK October 4-9, 2014
- National Economic Forum. by the Government of Ghana, Senchi, May 12-16, 2014
- Faith and Mining Conversation: Mine Sites Visits in Newmont Ghana and AngloGold Ashanti Ghana, July 14-18, 2014
- Faith and Mining Conversation: Mine Sites Visits in Anglo American, South Africa, August 23-30, 2014
- Regional Consultation with Faith-based Leaders on Demographic Dividend and Access to Reproductive Health Services. UNFPA, Dakar, Senegal, October 25-27, 2015
- Faith and Mining Conversation: Mine Sites Visits in Anglo American, Peru, June 25-July 5, 2015
- Conference on Investing in African Mining: Indaba 2015. International Council of Metal and Mining, Cape Town, South Africa, February 9-14, 2015
- Partnerships for addressing maternal and child health and realizing the demographic dividend: African faith-based organizations in the lead. UNFPA Executive Board via VCT, at UN Secretariat, New York USA, January 28, 2016
- Promotion of a Peaceful Africa Conference: Nairobi Kenya. African Union and the All African Conference of Churches, Nov 28-Dec 1, 2016
- 56th Session of the United Nations Commission for Social Development strategies for eradicating poverty to achieve sustainable development for all, United Nations Headquarters, New York January 29, – February 7, 2018
- Conference on World Mission and Evangelism (CWME) World Council of Churches at Arusha Tanzania March 7-13, 2018.
- Workshop (Facilitator) on Building the Capacity of Faith-Based Organization Leaders to function as Institution of Calm during the National Elections of the Democratic Republic of Congo: Kinshasa Congo, April 16-20, 2018.
References[edit]
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w “About | Rev Dr Kwabena Opuni”. Archived from the original on 28 July 2018. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
- ^ “christiancouncilgh.org – Diese Website steht zum Verkauf! – Informationen zum Thema christiancouncilgh”. www.christiancouncilgh.org. Archived from the original on 27 December 2018. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
- ^ “Profile of Kwabena, Rev. (Dr.) Opuni-Frimpong – Staff Web Directory, KNUST”. webapps.knust.edu.gh. Retrieved 2019-03-07.
- ^ “Home”. IEA. Archived from the original on 2 January 2019. Retrieved 5 March 2019