ARCHDIOCESE OF ACCRA YOUTH CHAPLAIN GRADUATES WITH FIRST CLASS IN GA EDUCATION

Rev. Fr. Alphonse Bulloro, who is currently the Youth Chaplain of the Catholic Archdiocese of Accra and the priest in charge of St. Raphael, the Archangel, Lashibi has graduated from the University of Education with a First Class Honours in Ga Education.

Below is an account of what the priest calls the journey so far…..

In 2018, I took the challenge to go to the University of Education, Ajumako Campus to do Ga Education. Before this, I had always thought of doing the Ga Language and Culture to help promote the use of the Ga language in the Archdiocese of Accra.

I have always believed that for effective missionary work the language of the land of mission should be given priority.

I was admitted to the Ga-Dangme Department to do this programme for four years. Initially, I thought the course was just about the communicative aspect of the language. However, the was more to it in the grammatical area.

I had to do general linguistics courses like phonetics, phonology, morphology, and syntax before delving into the Ga language proper. There were aspects of the Ga Culture I also did.

Since the University of Education is to train teachers, I also did educational courses like curriculum, principles and practice of teaching, education technology, education psychology, and counselling in Education to mention but a few.

I feel proud doing the Ga Education course because now, I can confidently approach Ga phonetically, phonologically morphologically, semantically, and syntactically.

In 2019, owing to the Covid-19 pandemic, I had to learn from home. The pandemic delayed the programme a bit.

In my third year in 2021, the Ghanaian Language faculty selected me and two others, Sarah Arhinful (Ewe Department) and Emmanuel Okutu (Dangme Unit) for an interview which was to prepare us for an exchange programme in the University College of Copenhagen, Denmark. Out of over 50 students, I happened to be the first to be selected among 12 other students. Two of us were from the Ga-Dangme department.

At the University of College of Copenhagen we had the opportunity to read didactics of conflict resolution, English Language Skills, and Music for young ones. In Copenhagen, I felt happy to have read the works of Jacobson Christein Proten, who was half Danish and half Ga, and the one believed to have designed the first Ga language sounds for missionary work

I wish to use the Ga language in the study of scripture. Mother tongue exegesis is an area I believe the Catholic Church of Ghana must explore and encourage.

To the greater glory of God.

I acknowledge everyone who has encouraged me along this long journey.

Archbishop Charles Palmer-Buckle, with his love for languages, started this programme with me to promote the Ga language and I thank him a lot for his fatherly support. Archbishop Kwofie saw the importance of promoting the Ga language in Accra and also encouraged me.

I acknowledge the inspiration of Mgsr. Jonathan Ankrah. I cannot leave out our two Auxiliary Bishops elect Msgrs. John Kobina Louis and Anthony Narh Asare who by divine plan contributed largely to the success of my project work.

I also thank my AAPA brothers for their encouragement especially brother priests from Teshie, Msgr. Francis Adoboli, Frs. Francis Asagba, John Amoah, Donkor Baine, Raymond Osei-Tutu, Christopher Sackey, Michael K. Mensah, Joseph Arthur, Ebenezer Akesseh, Clement Wilson, Neuman Tettehfio, Peter Hesse, Abaiku Apprey, Anthony Adu Mensah, Ebenezer Hanson, Osmund Kudoloh, Patrick Quarcopoome, Januarius Akpabli and the Unique Brothers.

I acknowledge the guidance of Prof. Philip Laryea, Dr Cecilia Kotey, Dr Yvonne Ollenu, Miss Ruby Otoo and Mr Adams Lantei.
To the St. Raphael the Archangel Catholic Church, I am highly indebted.
Finally, I acknowledge all my family members who never gave up on me and supported me. To all and sundry whose names I have not mentioned I acknowledge you too.

Profile

Rev. Fr. Alphonse Bulloro originally hails from Lyssah in the Upper West Region of Ghana.
Fr. Bulloro was born on the 1st of August 1984 at Teshie North Clinic by Mr Hypolite Bulloro (deceased) and Mrs Camilla Bulloro. He is the last of born of his parents.

Fr. Bulloro had his basic education at Teshie Camp ‘2’ Primary and Junior Secondary School and then proceeded to Pope John Secondary High and Minor Seminary, Koforidua.
He continued to St. Teresa’s Minor Seminary for his Post Senior High School education and then gained admission to St. Paul’s Major Seminary to do Spirituality and Philosophy between 2005 and 2007.
He was in St. Peter’s Regional Seminary, Pedu for his theological studies from 2007 to 2014.
Rev. Fr. Alphonse Bulloro holds a B.A. degree in Religion and Sociology from the university of Ghana, Legon (2012) and B.A. degree from Urbaniana University in Rome. (2014).

Rev. Fr. Alphonse Bulloro is currently the Youth Chaplain of the Catholic Archdiocese of Accra and the priest in charge of St. Raphael, the Archangel, Lashibi.

Congratulations Fr. Bulloro