In 1989, the SSNIT Estate in Community 12, Sakumono Estates, Tema, were allocated to interested applicants. Among the residents were a good number of enthusiastic Catholics. Even though they continued to attend Church Services at their previous Parishes, there was a burning desire for the establishment of a Catholic Church at the new locality.
A delegation met with the then Bishop of Accra, His Lordship the ( Late ) Right Reverend Dominic Kodwo Andoh, to discuss the possibility of starting a new church at Community 13, Sakumono Estates. The Bishop agreed to assist this small community which fell under the jurisdiction of Good Shepherd Catholic Church, Community 2,Tema. Consequently , on February 10,1991, the first Holy Mass was celebrated in the Sakumono Estates Community with the then Priest-in-Charge of the Good Shepherd Church, Reverend Father Patrick Twi ( of Blessed memory), as the celebrant. As time went on, Rev. Fr. James Duncan of the Centenary House, Accra, was asked by the Bishop to take in charge of the Sunday Mass whilst the Good Shepherd Parish continued to shepherd the then Small Catholic Church at Sakumono as its outstation.
Others who joined the above group shortly after were Lawrence Ayagiba, George Quarshie and the Parku Family
The yard in the SSNIT Estates office was one of the first places where Holy Mass was celebrated in the community. This yard however had no walls, so the place was found to be quite inconvenient. As the number of people attending Holy Mass continue to increase, the late Mr. Emmanuel Comla Otabil, who had then walled his house, together with his wife, offered the use of their house for Holy Mass.
Sometime later, it became apparent that the Otabils’ residence too could not be used for long in view of the increasing size of the congregation. Some of the members went to discuss a possible move to the Bethel Nursery School, which was not too far away from the Otabils’ home with the then headmistress of the School, Ms. Patience Grace Bonney, a Methodist. She readily agreed to allow the Church to celebrate Holy mass in her school. However, since the same place was already being used by Methodist Church, The Catholic Church had to schedule its Sunday Mass very early in the morning and leave the premises by 9:00am to make room for the Methodist Church.
Later in the year, SSNIT completed work on another school building in the flats of the Sakumono Estates. This school was handed over to the Catholic Education Unit of the Ghana Education Service in September 1992 to run as the Holy Child Nursery and Basic School. A decision was then taken to start worship at the Holy Child Nursery Block which has a spacious pavilion that could accommodate the growing numbers.
A wooden alter was constructed there and Rev. Fr. James Duncan continued to celebrate Holy Mass with the Catholic Community at this venue, as well as provide spiritual support. Thus, with the cooperation of priests from the Good Shepherd Parish, The Church forged ahead in unity and harmony. The only Societies that existed in the early days of the Church were: the Knights of the Alter, the Lay Readers or Lectors’ Association, the illustrious Choir and the Catholic Charismatic Renewal Group.
In July 1991, a few changes were made in the membership of the Church Pastoral Council due to the departure of the then Secretary , Mr. Peter Egyir , to Canada. Mr. George Fidelis Dakpallah was appointed Secretary with Mr. Louis Doe Atsiatorme as the Assistant Secretary.
Eight Children were baptized into the Church August 10th ,1991, by Rev. Fr. Seth Awo –Doqu. Just around the same time, in order to meet the aspirations of most members, the Church Pastoral Council decided to organise the first Harvest with the aim of raising funds for building a Chapel. The Harvest Committee formed then was made up of Messrs Kingsley Attah-Karikari, Simon Kwakye (of blessed memory), Edmund Collins Ahadome, Francis Mensah-Aborampah, Lawrence Ayagiba (the Architect) and Mrs. Hannah Dankwa-Smith.
The Harvest came off on December1, 1991 at the Bethel School Park and yielded GHS78.40 (or 784,035 old cedis). Soon after this event, Rev. Fr. Awo-Doqu, who was leading the Church-building effort, was transferred from Tema; and in his place came equally energetic priest, Rev. Fr. Francis Asagba.
At the beginning of 1993, Rev. Fr. Peter Baddoo was posted to the Good Shepherd Parish as the Priest-In-Charge. This transfer was followed by the announcement of the elevation of the late Bishop Dominic Kodwo Andoh as the Archbishop of Accra.
