Mr. Anthony Ngissah Assuah is diligent, principled, dedicated and visionary. He is a dynamic person who exudes confidence in all his endeavours. His grace, composure and drive serves as an inspiration to all he encounters. He joined the Accra Archdiocesan Catholic Youth Council (AADCYC) in 2012 as the then Chairman of Osu Deanery Catholic Youth Council and was elected as the Vice Chairman of AADCYC in 2016, and later was elected as the Chairman in September 2018 by dint of hard work.
As the constitution requires, the Council (AADCYC) was due for elections last year September 2020 but due to Covid 19 and a new directive of age policy of 30 years below to hold position for any youth group in the Catholic Church as directed by the Ghana Catholic Bishop Conference, Mr. Anthony N. Assuah and his team has to make way to elect leaders who are 30 years below to lead the youth front this year by 31st August, 2021 and this applies to the Parish/Church Youth Councils, Deanery Youth Councils and at the Archdiocesan level for all youth groups.
His underlining tenet is premised on the belief in God, hard work and perfection as vividly espoused in Proverbs 3:5 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.”
During his tenure, he encouraged team work and an all-inclusive approach to bring the youth in Accra Catholic Archdiocese together. Most of the programs embarked on were centered on three thematic areas as: Faith Formation, Growth and Maturation and Skills Development, all under the New Integrated Catholic Youth Formation Programme (NICYFOP) which is currently in use. The programs were designed to inculcate in the Catholic Youth, the faith in living the practical way enough as youth to live holistically without any conflict with faith and science. It is to help young people understand and appreciate the gift of life, the purpose of life, the process of growth and Living a valuable life together with its attending challenges, opportunities and responsibilities at each stage of development in life as a youth. The main purpose is to give our youth an integral formation to become a better version of themselves and to live the Christ-like life, with Christ as the center of all things.
He and his team designed an official attire for the youth in the archdiocese for all youth programs, they had the archdiocesan vocations rally online in April 2021, which recorded an impressive participation. They launched the 2023 World Youth Day International Version in March 2021 with a road map to Lisbon 2023 to aid preparations and encourage as many youth to participate in the world gathering of youth. Currently there is a programme ongoing dubbed ‘Faith Discussions” with the slogan “it is time to explore our faith”. This is where youth in the Archdiocese gather every last Friday of the month in a Deanery to discuss matters of faith to deepen our understanding as youth on the teachings of the Catholic Church.
We thank God and thank him and his team for the good work done in leading the Catholic Youths of the Archdiocese of Accra this far. As I attempted to find out about Anthony Ngissah Assuah, scores of descriptions came to the fore about him. ‘A gentleman of the highest order, an action – oriented personality, caring and concerned about the welfare of all, intelligent, affable, a good mixer, simple, jovial and approachable,” were some of the descriptions bestowed by Youths, Priests and friends on the elegant 6.7 feet spectacled gentleman. Looking at the description from my point of view, I believe Anthony Ngissah Assuah deserve the appellations showered on him which can be described as a true reflection of one gentle giants of the Youth in the Catholic Archdiocese of Accra.
Anthony Ngissah Assuah’s life is reminiscent of a young man whose taste for quality and perfection stands out supreme in all his endeavours. His journey in life as youth leader, like others, although smooth sailing, has never been without perseverance. Perseverance has enabled him to come this far. He started as a Sacristan (Assistant Secretary) an enviable position for any Mass Server in 1998 with the Knights and Ladies of the Altar at St. Maurice Catholic Church, La. He has rich experience in leadership as he served in various capacities as PYC Chair, Deanery Chair at the youth front with KNOLTA and COSRA among others. He has served and continues to serve on Archdiocesan committees like the Laity Council, Justice and Peace Commission, Pastoral Care, and currently serving as the Vice Chairman of the St. Maurice Parish Pastoral Council.
Anthony Ngissah Assuah hold a Bachelor of Art Degree in English and Political Science from the University of Ghana, Legon; a Bachelor of Laws Degree and Masters in Public Administration.
We are very proud of him and congratulate him as he hands over honorable at the youth level. It is our prayer that he will use his rich experience to guide his successor and allow the Holy Mother the Catholic Church to benefit from his rich experience and counsel as he serve in other capacities in the Church and outside of the Church and in his work life..