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Rt Rev. Dr Bliss Divine Agbeko, leads EPCG to greater heights
He drives as a hobby, plays table tennis as a pastime and loves writing as a leisure pursuit, but the strongest passion of the former farm labourer is to serve God and humanity.
Rt Rev. Dr Lt Colonel Bliss (rtd) Divine Agbeko assumed office as the new Moderator of the General Assembly of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Ghana (EPCG) after a festive induction service at the Dela Cathedral at Ho Kpodzi on Sunday.
The retired army officer was the immediate past District Pastor of the Accra New Town District of the church.
Background
He was born in 1963 to Togbe Dzokoto IV, of Adaklu-Ahunda, who was the Senior Divisional Chief of Adaklu Traditional Area and Madam Florence Mercy Abra Gle from Gbi-Kpoeta, all in the Volta Region.
Rev. Dr Agbeko was ordained as a Minister of the EPCG on August 22, 1992 and commissioned as an officer of the Ghana Armed Forces on August 1999.
He attended Kpedze Secondary School where he obtained the General Certificate of Education Ordinary Level and proceeded to Kadjebi Secondary School for the Advanced Level.
He entered the Trinity Theological Seminary at Legon where he earned a Diploma in Theology and a Certificate in Ministry.
In 1994, he was admitted to the University of Ghana, Legon where he was awarded Bachelor of Arts (Hons) Religions in 1998.
While serving in the Ghana Armed Forces, Rev. Dr Agbeko trained as a Career Chaplain at the US Army Chaplaincy School at Fort Jackson, Columbia, South Carolina and later earned a Doctorate Degree in Ministry from the Erskine Theological Seminary, Due West, in the United States.
He progressed to train as a Clinical Counsellor at the Self-Regional Hospital, Greenwood in the United States.
Furthermore, he attended the Ghana Armed Forces Command Staff College (Junior Division) and received also a Post-Graduate Diploma in Public Administration from Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) in 2013.
Ministerial Experience
The versatile priest began his ministry as District Pastor at Mafi-Adidome in the Volta Region, where he served the church in that capacity from 1992 to 1994. He pastured the Abeka District of the EPCG in Accra from 1994 to 1998, and then worked as Chaplain at the Garrison Methodist Presbyterian Church (GMPC) at Burma Camp in Accra.
He enlisted into the officer corps of the Ghana Armed Forces and was commissioned on August 20, 1999, as a Lieutenant.
After commissioning, he continued to serve at the GMPC until September 2000, when he was assigned to the 6 Garrison Tamale (comprising 6 Battalion at Kamina Barracks, Airborne Force and the Airforce co-related at Bawah Barracks) as Chaplain.
In 2005, he was assigned the role of Administrative Officer at the Directorate of Religious Affairs, Burma Camp and Chaplain at GMPC until 2006, when he took up the duties of Chaplain as the 37 Military Hospital and Methodist Presbyterian Church at Negheli Barracks in Accra.
Rev. Dr Agbeko served the 37 Military Hospital until 2016 when he was re-assigned to the Military Academy and Training School and the Teshie Camp Methodist Presbyterian Church (TCMPC) as Chaplain, a position he held until 2018 when he retired from the military.
He served at various times as District Pastor of the Kisseman and Adentan Districts of the EPCG in Accra, after which he was appointed the pioneer Synod Moderator of the Meridian Presbytery of the church and served in that capacity from 2014 to 2019.
Before entering priesthood, Rev. Dr Agbeko worked as an evangelist of the EPCG at Dambai (now in the Oti Region) from 1983 to 1986 and also as a farm hand at the EPCG Agricultural Resettlement Project during the same period.
International Experience
His immense international experiences include: Second Minister, First Presbyterian Church, PCUSA Greenwood, USA; Pastor/Fundraiser of Erskine Theological Seminary, USA; Hospital Staff Chaplain, Self-Regional Healthcare, Greenwood.
In the military front, Rev. Dr Agbeko took part in United Nations (UN) Operations, MONUC GH 2, Peace Keeping in DR Congo in 2002; UN Operations, UNIFIL GH 10, Sierra Leone in 2004, UN Operations, UNIFIL GH 77, Lebanon 2013 and Liaison Officer, All African Conference of Military Chaplains, La Palm, Accra in 2013.
His publications include Biblical Theological and Psychological bases for Training Chaplains, Golden Principles for Self-Discovery, Improvement and Fulfilment, Pray But Pray Alright; and Evening Meal Divisional.
In a chat with The Spectator, Rev. Dr Agbeko, married with four children, said that his father had all along wanted him to become a lawyer, “but I also insisted that the Bible was a law book”.
The friendly priest said that his priorities as the Moderator of the General Assembly of the EPCG included leading the church in the will of God while working with all and sundry to revive it to greater heights.
He contended that that the military also needs “religious direction and guidance,” hence his decision to train as an army officer.
The Moderator of the General Assembly of the EPCG speaks Ewe, Twi and English.
He is the second native of Adaklu to lead the EPCG in that capacity, many decades after the Very Reverend Andreas Aku from Adaklu-Waya served the church as its first Moderator, and left office in 1922.
BY ALBERTO MARIO NORETTI
IN the annals of Ghana’s sporting history, certain individuals stand out not merely for participating in sport, but for transforming it.
Rev. Emmanuel D. Niikoi is one such figures. Revered as the father of modern netball in Ghana, is widely credited with rescuing the game from near extinction and transforming it into a vibrant, structured and nationally recognised sports discipline.
His journey reflects vision, resilience and an unwavering commitment to youth and sports development.
Netball was introduced to the then Gold Coast by Christian missionaries alongside formal education. By the 1960s and early 1970s, the sport had gained remarkable popularity in schools and colleges, ranking second only to football and, in some institutions, rivaling it in appeal.
However, during the 1974/75 academic year, the Ghana Education Service (GES) took a policy decision to step down netball in favour of basketball development. The decision dealt a severe blow to the sport.
Between 1975 and 1985, competitive netball virtually disappeared from Ghana’s sporting calendar.
That decision of the GES can be blamed for the current state of the sports that is producing heroines across the globe.
The revival of the game can be traced to 1985 during the Golden Jubilee celebration of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC).
At the time, Rev. Niikoi was serving as Chief Editor (News) in the Radio Newsroom. Understanding both the historical importance and untapped potential of netball, he championed the inclusion of a netball tournament as part of the anniversary celebrations. The event reignited public interest and reminded many of the sport’s former glory.
Crucially, Rev. Niikoi did not allow the momentum to fade after the festivities. The GBC netball team formed for the tournament, aptly named “Golden Hands,” became the cornerstone of a national revival campaign.
With determination and personal sacrifice, he led tours across the country, using the team as a practical training platform.
He personally taught sports teachers under the GES the official rules of netball, reintroduced structured competition, and restored confidence in the sport’s viability.
These efforts culminated with the formation of the Netball Association of Ghana in 1988, now known as the Netball Federation of Ghana.
In 1990, the association gained formal recognition from the National Sports Authorities, previously known as the National Sports Council (NSC), restoring netball’s status as an official sporting discipline.
This milestone marked the rebirth of organised netball in Ghana and cemented Rev. Niikoi’s place as founder of the national governing body.
Revival soon transitioned into consolidation. Over the years, Rev. Niikoi consistently lobbied educational and sports authorities to reintegrate netball into major school competitions.
His advocacy led to the sport’s reintroduction into the National Basic Schools Sports Festival, the Senior High and Technical Schools Sports Festival, the Colleges of Education games, and competitions under the Ghana University Sports Association (GUSA).
Today, netball is played across the entire educational structure in Ghana, from basic schools to public universities, a testament to his sustained and strategic efforts.
On the continental and global front, Ghana is a full member of World Netball and was a founding member of the Confederation of Africa Netball Associations (CANA), now Africa Netball.
In 2004, Ghana hosted the inaugural Africa Netball Cup of Nations in Accra and emerged champions after defeating Namibia in the final. The victory not only boosted Ghana’s sporting image but also validated years of groundwork.
In 2007, Rev. Niikoi was elected Director of Marketing and Media for CANA, serving a four-year term and contributing to the sport’s development across the continent.
In 2019, following governance reforms required by the International Olympic Committee to lift sanctions related to state interference in sports administration, national federations were mandated to adopt independent constitutions. Under this new framework, the Netball Federation of Ghana successfully drafted its constitution and conducted elections.
On June 19, 2019, Rev. Niikoi was elected the federation’s first President under the independent constitutional order which is symbolic and deserved recognition of decades of service.
Beyond netball administration, Rev. Niikoi also served two terms spanning eight years from March 2018 to March 2025 as an Executive Board Member of the Ghana Olympic Committee.
His presence on the board ensured that netball maintained visibility within Ghana’s broader Olympic movement.
A Bachelor of Arts graduate in Combined Honours (History and Law), Rev. Emmanuel D. Niikoi has trained numerous coaches and umpires nationwide, strengthening the sport’s technical foundation and ensuring sustainability.
His leadership style combines administrative discipline with grassroots engagement, making him both a strategist and a mentor.
From dormancy to dynamism, the resurgence of netball in Ghana bears his unmistakable imprint. Through advocacy, institution-building and capacity development, Rev. Niikoi has secured a lasting legacy.
Today, every netball match played in Ghana, whether at a basic school court or a university festival stands as living testimony to his vision and perseverance.
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
AUTISM Awareness Care and Training (AACT) is Ghana’s first autism-focused centre, playing a pioneering role in the care, education, and advocacy for children on the autism spectrum and their families.
Established in 1998, AACT began as a parent-support and training initiative at a time when autism was poorly understood in Ghana. Many families raising autistic children faced stigma, isolation, and limited access to information or professional assistance.
Over the years, the organisation has evolved into a full-fledged autism care and training centre, responding to the growing demand for specialised services and sustained nationwide awareness.
AACT is currently located in Haatso, Accra, where it operates a structured day programme serving about 25 learners daily. The centre provides a safe, inclusive, and supportive environment where children with autism are guided to develop essential life, social, and functional skills.
Programmes at the centre focus on independent living skills, vocational and pre-vocational training, functional academic skills, and therapeutic interventions. These activities are tailored to the individual needs of each learner, recognising that children on the autism spectrum learn and develop at different paces.
According to Abeiku Grant, Head of Programmes at AACT, the centre’s philosophy is centred on ability rather than limitation.
“Every autistic child is different,” he said. “Our work is to support them at their own pace and help them discover what they can do, not to focus on what they cannot do.”
Beyond centre-based services, AACT places strong emphasis on autism awareness and advocacy, particularly within schools and communities. Many children with autism in Ghana continue to face rejection and exclusion due to stigma, misinformation, and the lack of trained personnel in educational institutions.
In 2025, AACT reached over 20 schools across the country, providing autism education to teachers, students, and school administrators.
The organisation also runs free teacher training programmes, equipping educators with practical knowledge and basic tools to support autistic learners in inclusive classroom settings.
“Many schools tell us they are not resourced or trained to handle autistic learners,” Mr Grant explained. “Instead of waiting for change, we decided to go to them and train teachers for free.”
AACT also engages learners directly, addressing widespread misconceptions about autism, including the false belief that autism is contagious or caused by bad parenting. These outreach programmes aim to build empathy among students and promote peer support for autistic learners in mainstream schools.
Another major challenge confronting families is limited access to autism services, especially outside Accra. With most autism centres concentrated in the capital, many families from other regions are forced to travel long distances or keep their children at home due to cost, stigma, or lack of support.
“Education is not meant only for typical children,” Mr Grant stressed. “Children with autism also have the right to education and care. No child should be hidden because of lack of understanding or opportunity.”
As part of its outreach work, AACT supports parents to overcome stigma and encourages social interaction for children with autism, believing that community engagement is essential for development and confidence building.
In December 2025, the centre received what it described as its largest donation of the year, raised by children from the Unmasked Mentoring initiative. According to the organisation, the donation was particularly significant as it demonstrated empathy and social responsibility among young people.
As a non-governmental, non-profit organisation, AACT depends largely on donations, partnerships, and goodwill to sustain and expand its work. Current needs include a minibus for community-based social activities, expansion of its facility to accommodate more learners, sponsorship support for children from financially challenged families, and funding to scale autism awareness programmes nationwide.
Looking ahead, AACT envisions a Ghanaian society that is inclusive, informed, and supportive of persons with autism.
“Our goal is a Ghana where children with autism are accepted and supported,” Mr Grant said. “Every child has potential. All they need is understanding, opportunity, and care.”
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
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