Rev. Mgsr. Bobby Benson of the Koforidua Diocese in Ghana’s Eastern Region on January 3, 2024 marked his 72nd birthday with a Thanksgiving Mass at the Christ the King Parish, Accra during which the Chaplain-General of the Ghana Police Service, DCOP/Very Rev. Fr. George Arthur preached the homily and the Bishop of Koforidua, the Most Rev. joseph Afrifah-Agyekum presiding.
As the homilist, DCOP Fr. Arthur delved into the Responsorial Psalm read which formed the basis of Monsignor’s celebration: “What shall I render to the Lord for His goodness to me? The Cup of salvation, I will raise and call on the name of the Lord.” (Psalm 116 : 12 – 17).
“In this Eucharistic celebration, Monsignor Benson is thanking God for his life, blessings and successes in the ministry. He is showing appreciation to his families, benefactors, friends and all those who have contributed to make him who and what he is today, DCOP Fr. Arthur said.
According to him, Msgr. Bobby Benson was “equally appreciative to his Diocesan Bishop for his love and brotherliness. He is also grateful to the Metropolitan Archbishop of Accra and the Parish Priest of Christ the King Church for permitting him to celebrate his Thanksgiving Mass here. And finally, to all of you who have joyfully responded to his invitation.”
“We say Congratulations and Ayekoo to you, Monsignor Benson and wish you good health and greater achievements in the years ahead. Seventy two years is a blessing from God. You have really touched many lives in your priestly Ministry,” he told Msgr. Bobby Benson.
Msgr. Bobby Benson belongs to the Catholic Diocese of Koforidua and ordained Priest on July 6, 1980 by the then Bishop of Accra, the Most Rev. Dominic Kwadwo Andoh of blessed memory.
He served at many Parishes in different capacities including: The Holy Spirit Cathedral, Adabraka; St. Kizito Parish – Nima; St. Anthony Catholic Church, Akwatia; St. Dominic Catholic Hospital, Akwatia from 2000-2002 as Chaplain and Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) Supervisor.
He is currently the full time Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) Supervisor and the Director of Matthew 25 House at Koforidua. He studied Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) in Ireland and also obtained the Master’s Degree in Religious Studies from the United States of America (U.S.A).
History reveals that Monsignor Benson was fully and actively involved in the Pastoral care for the Ghanaian returnees from Nigeria in 1983.
He was the winner of the MTN Heroes of Change 2017 Programme in the Health category. At the time, he told this reporter he has been humbled by winning a cash prize of GH¢30,000 at a ceremony at the National Theatre in Accra on Friday, May 20, 2017.
In an interview with this writer in 2017, he said “I felt very happy and humbled to get to this far”, saying that he would use the money to continue the construction of a Hospice for persons with terminal illness from all diseases at Koforidua which is still in progress.
Msgr. Bobby Benson founded Matthew 25 House, a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) in Ghana, to help those infected with and affected by HIV and AIDS as well as giving aid to Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC).
Matthew Chapter 25 is a formidable partner in the fight against HIV and AIDS to help check the spread of the pandemic, offer care and support to People Living with HIV (PLWHIV) and their orphans whilst sensitizing them to be bold and go out to tell the world the disease is real.
According to Msgr. Bobby Benson, the idea of the establishment of Matthew 25 was conceived in 1996 when he was studying in the United States of America (USA) as a Student Chaplain, where two people living with HIV were brought to him and his colleagues in one of their classes.
“I was touched so much after they had spoken to us and I hugged them, sat and chatted with them. It was then that I realized that people living with HIV were also humans, who needed to be encouraged in diverse ways. Before this moment, I had said I will not get nearer them because I was afraid but my action broke the barrier”, Msgr. Bobby Benson said.
When he came back to Ghana in 1997, remembering the experience he had when in the USA, he decided to help in his small way to form support base by opening a Centre at the old Parish Hall of St. Anthony Catholic Church at Akwatia where he was then the Parish Priest and christened it Matthew Chapter 25 Project, which started in 1999 with nine HIV patients.
According to Msgr. Bobby Benson, stigmatization of HIV and AIDS patients could be reduced through constant education at all places, calling on Pastors to use their pulpits and Ghanaians in general to champion this cause. HIV/AIDS is still with us and all hands must be on deck to fight it.
“Our health is our wealth. I appeal to every Ghanaian to take good care of his or her health to reduce cost on medication and treatments,” he stated.
By Damian Avevor
