Leaders of the Accra Archdiocesan Christian Mothers’ Association (CMA) have been urged to use their talents to the glory of God since it was handed over to them by grace and they would be accountable for it.
Rev. Fr. Donatus Pallu, Assistant Priest of Christ the King Parish, Cantonments, Accra, made the appeal at a leadership orientation at the Christ the King Parish on Saturday, March 4, 2023 for the new Archdiocesan and Parish executives of the CMA.
Welcoming the over 200 participants, he entreated the mothers to be prayerful and consciously contribute to the moral upbringing of their children most especially their daughters both at home and in the Church.
The one-day training organised by the CMA as part of its activities was aimed at equipping members to learn and relearn the rudiments of good leadership, entrepreneurial skills, and public speaking as well as equip them for the task ahead for the growth of the Association and the Church at large.
Participants were made up of the newly elected Archdiocesan Executives, Presidents and Secretaries of each parish from the eight Deaneries of the Accra Archdiocese – Kpehe, Osu, Madina, Tema, Ashaiman, Mamprobi, Battor, and Kaneshie.
In attendance were representatives of Christian Fathers, Sons and Daughters Associations.
Speaking on the topic “Unlocking the Entrepreneurship Potential of Christian Mothers”, Ing. Philip Lartey, Director for Public Private partnership (PPP) at the Ministry of Roads and Highways; encouraged the Accra CMA leaders to develop their skills, saying that “Talents are natural and unique to each individual.”
“Talents are what you are born with. We can discover our talents through attachment and observation. Talents are not simply what you are good at, they are found in the things you truly love to do and enjoy,” he said.
According to him, “Using your God-given talents to impact society builds your confidence and keeps you motivated,” adding, “To go through life without discovering one’s strongest talents can lead to feelings of frustration, resentment and even depression.”
He, therefore, asked the Mothers to take advantage of certain opportunities around them to make money for the Association.
Other speakers at the orientation were Mother Hannah Essuman, the CMA National President; Mother Mabel Quarshie, the outgoing 1st Vice Accra Archdiocesan President; Mother Anna Mensah, Outgoing Accra Archdiocesan President/CMA National/Archdiocesan Advisor; Mother Ernestina Adom, outgoing 2nd Vice Accra Archdiocesan President; and Mother Lydia Antonio, Immediate Past Accra Archdiocesan Advisor.
The rest were Rev. Bismark Akandi, a Pastor of the Presbyterian Church; Mr. Mustapha Ibrahim, a Public Speaking Coach; Mother Augustina Arthur, past National Vice President; Mother Olivia Ansu Amponsah the National Executive Secretary and Rev. Fr. Wisdom Larweh, Parish Priest of St. Peter Parish at Osu, who spoke on the topic: “Legal Awareness and Implications where he touched on the Association’s responsibilities according to the Canon Law.
Addressing the participants, Mother Essuman commended the executives for the orientation and entreated them to organise such programmes and fun games to bring Mothers together to promote unity.
She urged Mothers to stay united in order to push ahead the collective agenda for the growth of the Association.
She encouraged mothers to religiously partake in the “Lenten Jar Project of the Association; where at least 50pesewas is dropped in the “susu” box or jar daily to be given to charity at the end of the Lenten season.
She stressed on the need for mothers to live in peace and entreated them to sit through the orientation in other to reap its benefits.
Taking the participants through the Constitution of the Association, Mother Quarshie stressed on the need for members to uphold it at all times.
Touching on the CMA’s Head Office procedures and expectations from Mothers, Mother Mensah on her part said as a norm, in the absence of the Archdiocesan President, she delegates the first and second Vice Presidents to initiate new members into the Association.
According to her, mothers, fathers, daughters and sons who wished to join the Association are given three months period of probation in order to be assured of their full commitment to the Association if they finally get initiated.
She encouraged the Parish Executives to ensure their members fulfil their financial obligations to enable the Association undertake intended project on an already acquired land.
Mother Mensah also stressed on the need to adhere to the appropriate dress code of the Association in order to promote uniformity and unity at all gatherings.
She reiterated the need for leaders to allow their finances to be audited by professional auditors in the Church or fall on respective Priests to help them acquire one to foster transparency and good leadership.
Mother Adom emphasised on the need to dress appropriately in uniform and comportment in public while Mother Antonio also addressed mothers on the spiritual, social and benevolent side of the Christian Mothers’ Association.
Rev. Akandi, who is a professional Auditor educated the members on Accounting and Audit Procedures and stressed the need for them to budget and cost the activities of the Association at every level in order to promote accountability.
On his part, Mr. Ibrahim who led mothers through series of activities in understanding the topic; “leadership skills and confident building through speaking” advised the participants on the need to forgo their egos as leaders.
He said in order to motivate followers, they need to rehearse speech before delivery in public or during meeting in order to build confidence and mastery over deliberations.
Mother Ansu Amponsah, the CMA National Executive Secretary, elaborated on the legal implications of using the Association’s logo without the approval of the National President or the Association for that matter, and asked mothers to desist from that act.
As part of the programme, the outgoing Accra Archdiocesan executives handed over documents to the newly elected executives led by Mother Eunice Kokui Dumashie as its President and encouraged them to work hard for the growth of the Association and Mother Church at large.
The other new executives are: Mother Esther Mame Ansaba Abaka, 1st Vice President; Mother Theresa Addai Marfo, 2nd Vice President; Mother Matilda Deku, Secretary; Mother Paulina Darko, Assistant Secretary; Mother Charity Grace Haywood-Amartey, Treasurer; Mother Agnes Abigail Tweneboa-Kodua, Financial Secretary; Mother Regina Moore and Mother Helena Apaloo, Chaplain and Assistant respectively; Mother Beatrice Gbedze Senyo, Protocol Officer and Mother Anna Mensah, Advisor.
