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Raising disciples, and families …Mission of Rev. Dr Kisseadoo’s Fruitful Ministry Int’l

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In Ghana’s Chris­tian commu­nity and beyond, Rev. Dr Samuel Kissea­doo has become a household name for his practical teachings on marriage, parenting, and relationships.

For more than five decades, he has served as an Evangelist, Preacher, Writer, Counselor, and Teacher, rais­ing a generation of believers whose lives bear testimony to his influence.

Born in Ghana, Dr Kisseadoo’s min­istry journey began as early as 1969, during his secondary school days.

With a burden to share the gospel, he began preaching in schools, train­ing colleges, fellowships, and church­es across the country.

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By the time he left for further studies abroad in 1993, he had already ministered in more than 85 secondary schools, witnessing mass conversions and altar calls.

But as he recalls, his concern soon shifted. “I was getting fed up with too many decisions and few disci­ples,” he said, drawing inspiration from Acts 20:20, which emphasises both public proclamation and person­al connection.

This principle-often referred to as the 20/20 vision of the church-shaped the foundation of his minis­try: bold public teaching, paired with intimate discipleship through person­al touch and attention.

Dr Kisseadoo furthered his stud­ies in the United States, earning his Ph.D. in New York in 1993. While in Holland and later America, he combined academic pursuits with active ministry, teaching and counsel­ing both students and church groups.

In 1994, after years of shaping lives abroad, he returned home to Ghana, where his ministry took on a national dimension.

In 1999, Dr Kisseadoo’s teachings on Joy FM-partic­ularly his frank dis­cussions on marriage, family, and relation­ships— drew national attention. His pro­gramme resonat­ed deeply with listeners, sparking requests for organised teachings and counseling sessions.

Speaking to The Spectator in an Accra, he said this led to the found­ing of Fruitful Ministries Internation­al, which was officially inaugurated on December 30, 2000, with over 400 participants in attendance despite Accra being choked with jubilant crowds celebrating the election of President John Agyekum Kufuor that same day.

He mentioned that Fruitful Minis­tries quickly grew into an interna­tional organisation, with 21 chapters in Ghana and abroad, structured around five objectives: evangelism, discipleship, prayer and empower­ment, leadership development, fami­ly, marriage, and relationships.

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Its motto, “Family Excellence,” and its theme verse, John 15:16-“I chose you to go and bear fruit that abides”-reflect its central vision: to nurture strong families that produce lasting impact.

“Today the ministry operates in two major zones- the southern zone with 13 chapters and the northern zone with 12 chapters with 36 plat­forms, ensuring its impact continues to multiply,” he said.

Dr Kisseadoo’s passion for fami­ly life and women’s empowerment is rooted in his upbringing. Losing his father at 12, he was raised by a devoted single mother whose resil­ience left a lasting imprint. “If I had GH¢100 in school, the first thing I would do was buy a gift for my moth­er,” he recalls.

That love and compassion deep­ened during his campus ministry days at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), where he frequently ministered to female students.

His early experiences convinced him that strengthening women, mothers, and families was vital to building a healthier society. “When God came to save humanity, He went to Mary, not Joseph,” he often says, underscoring women’s unique role in nurturing life.

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Through initiatives like the Fruitful Ministries Club at Accra Girls Se­nior High School, hundreds of young women have been trained since 2006 in excellence, character, and prepa­ration for future motherhood and leadership. Graduating students are awarded certificates, affirming their transformation into future pillars of society.

For more than two decades, Dr Kisseadoo has hosted “Hope for Your Family” on Joy 99.7 FM, airing every Saturday morning at 5:30 a.m.

The broadcast has become a life­line for families seeking guidance on marriage, parenting, and personal development.

He is also a prolific author, having published 32 books covering topics from discipleship to marriage and conflict resolution. His articles have appeared in both local and interna­tional publications, extending his reach far beyond the pulpit.

Whether speaking to large crowds, counseling couples, or addressing young people, Dr Kisseadoo’s teach­ings remain practical and down-to-earth.

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He tackles sensitive issues like sexuality, financial management in marriage, conflict resolution, and parenting with courage and clarity.

“No matter who you are, every­thing comes back to the home,” he insists. “Your lifestyle at home defines the person you present to the world,” Rev Kisseadoo stated.

He mentioned that despite its growth, Fruitful Ministries faces ongoing challenges. From limited office space to resource constraints, sustaining its operations has not been easy.

According to him, there is also the misconception that, because its founder resides in the United States of America (USA), the ministry was well-funded-a notion far from reality. Recruiting and retaining committed workers has also proven difficult.

But Dr Kisseadoo remains unde­terred. “We don’t just want people to go to heaven, we want them to be useful on earth as well,” he said.

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Today, Rev. Dr Samuel Kisseadoo is celebrated not only as a preach­er but also as a mentor, writer, and counselor whose ministry has raised disciples, leaders, and families across Ghana and the diaspora.

By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu

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No woman can face breast cancer alone – Survivor

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Ms Fafa Gozo

For Ms Fafa Gozo, being alive is a blessing she no longer takes for granted. Having faced breast cancer and endured the challenges of treatment, she has learnt to appreciate life differently, embrace change and find strength in an experience she once feared would end her life.

Ms Fafa Gozo

“If you ask me how to describe my life today, I would say well, because I am alive,” she said.

Ms Gozo with partners of the Dzidula Pink Foundation

Although her life is no longer the same as it was before her diagnosis, she is grateful for the opportunity to live and make the most of each day.

Ms Fafa Gozo

Before breast cancer, Ms Gozo described herself as a happy woman who balanced her responsibilities as a mother, wife and career woman. However, her life changed when she discovered a lump in her breast while breastfeeding her youngest child.

Ms Gozo addressing some school children on breast cancer

She sought medical attention, and further examinations led to a diagnosis of invasive breast cancer. The news was difficult to accept, particularly as she had a young child and family responsibilities to consider.

Chemotherapy began almost immediately. The treatment weakened her body, and she had to return to the hospital for further care.

Ms Gozo (second from right) with other breast cancer survivors

Beyond medication, she needed emotional strength to cope with the physical and psychological demands of the experience. Nevertheless, she continued with treatment, drawing strength from her faith and determination to live.

Ms Gozo

May 2022 marked the end of her chemotherapy, bringing relief after months of treatment. In June, she began another phase of her journey, focusing on recovery and rebuilding her life.

Healing was gradual, requiring physical and emotional adjustments. Just when she thought the worst was over, another health concern arose; bringing renewed anxiety and the need for further medical attention.

The experience taught her that recovery does not always follow a straight path. It requires patience, courage and the willingness to face uncertainty.

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Despite the difficulties, Ms Gozo has chosen to embrace the woman she has become rather than dwell on what she has lost.

“The old Fafa is gone, but I am loving the new Fafa. I appreciate the new Fafa more and take life easy because now I know life is very short and very vulnerable. Everyone is at risk,” she said.  Read More.

By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu

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• Lawyer Raphael Nyarkotey Obu
• Lawyer Raphael Nyarkotey Obu

From Doryumu to two Bars: The remarkable journey of Lawyer Nyarkotey Obu

From the quiet communities of Doryumu and Dodowa in the Shai-Osudoku area of Greater Accra to courtrooms in two West African countries, Lawyer Raphael Nyarkotey Obu’s story is one of unusual professional reinvention. 

On Friday, October 9, 2026, the naturopathic scholar was called to the Ghana Bar, following his earlier admission to the Bar in The Gambia in November 2024.

The milestone places him in a pioneering position. He has been reported as the first African naturopath to qualify as a lawyer in two West African countries—an achievement that combines natural medicine, academic leadership and legal training in a way rarely seen on the continent. 

Beyond the ceremonial wig and gown, however, lies a larger question: how will he use the law to improve the regulation of traditional, complementary and alternative medicine (TCAM) in Africa?

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The early journey

Nyarkotey traces his roots to Doryumu in the Shai-Osudoku district. Part of his childhood was spent with his grandmother in the Suhum-Amrahia area, before his family journey took him to Teshie Lascala, where he began his basic education. 

He later attended Ghanata Secondary School, Dodowa. These formative experiences preceded a career that would take him from classrooms in Ghana to professional legal training in Banjul and clinical and academic engagements in Asia.

Those beginnings matter because his achievements did not emerge from a single, straightforward professional path. He first built a name in Ghana’s developing natural medicine sector as an educator, researcher, author and advocate for stronger standards. 

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Education and difficult questions

That conviction informed the establishment and development of Nyarkotey College of Holistic Medicine in Ashaiman. The institution pursued structured professional education and competency-based training, including work connected to national occupational standards for naturopathy and holistic medicine. 

Yet its growth brought the challenge familiar to emerging health professions: educational ambitions can advance faster than the laws governing those who complete the training.

The College faced questions within Ghana’s tertiary education regulatory environment, while Nyarkotey also became involved in a public dispute with the Traditional Medicine Practice Council (TMPC). 

At the centre was disagreement over the reach of the Traditional Medicine Practice Act, 2000 (Act 575), and its application to naturopathy and other complementary and alternative medicine disciplines. The dispute entered the courts, where the interpretation of statutory authority remains a matter for legal determination.

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Why he studied law

It was against this backdrop that law became increasingly central to his work. After obtaining his law degree, Nyarkotey proceeded to the Gambia Law School and was called to the Gambian Bar in November 2024. He subsequently completed the route to admission in Ghana, culminating in the October 2026 ceremony. The second Bar call gives his professional story an especially Ghanaian significance: the legal questions that shaped his ambitions can now be addressed with the benefit of Ghanaian legal qualification.

The distinction is noteworthy, but he regards it as a means rather than an end. His interest is not simply in representing individual practitioners. He wants to contribute to laws that separate legitimate professional training from unsupported claims, define safe scopes of practice, provide fair disciplinary processes and protect patients. The objective, he argues, should be regulation that is firm, clear and suitable for Africa’s diverse healthcare landscape.

India and a wider horizon

In August 2026, Nyarkotey led 16 Ghanaian naturopaths to India for clinical immersion at Arujiva Ayurveda and Naturopathy Hospital in Karnataka. Their exposure included Ayurveda, yoga, naturopathy, nutrition and lifestyle-based care. 

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Subsequent interactions with Indian universities and professional institutions widened the educational exchange. For him, the visit offered a practical view of how training, research, hospitals and public policy can interact within established traditional medicine systems.

India also supplied a lesson in patience. Nyarkotey recalls being told by an Indian colleague that gaining recognition for an educational institution can involve years of persistence. He drew from that conversation a renewed commitment to documentation, programme quality, clinical preparation and continued regulatory engagement. 

QAI partnership and standards

A recent development is the College’s Memorandum of Understanding with India’s Quality and Accreditation Institute (QAI). The partnership is intended to support quality assurance, curriculum improvement and professional development across naturopathy and related complementary medicine disciplines. It marks a shift from pursuing recognition principally through advocacy towards building systems that can be independently assessed.

For Nyarkotey, the agreement offers a platform for developing that quality culture while respecting the jurisdiction of Ghana’s own educational and professional regulators.

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An African professional agenda

His thinking has also become continental. In March 2026, representatives associated with naturopathy from 11 African countries established the African Naturopathic Federation, with Nyarkotey as founding president. 

The Federation seeks to advance professional education, research, ethics and cooperation. Its potential lies in helping African countries discuss common training benchmarks while allowing each country’s laws, institutions and healthcare needs to shape implementation.

Nyarkotey is additionally promoting an India–Africa AYUSH Centre for Education, Research and Regulatory Cooperation. The proposed platform would connect African institutions and policymakers with Indian expertise, not only in training and clinical exposure but also in standards, research and responsible investment. 

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He believes African traditional knowledge and India’s institutional experience can form a productive partnership without either being treated as a substitute for scientific scrutiny or patient safety.

A law firm with a specialised mission

Perhaps his most distinctive future plan is a law firm devoted substantially to TCAM and healthcare regulation. He envisages advising governments, professional bodies, colleges, hospitals, clinics and businesses on legislation, registration, licensing, contracts, institutional compliance, patient rights and professional accountability. 

He also hopes to assist African countries seeking to draft or modernise legal frameworks for traditional, complementary and alternative medicine.

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That ambition follows naturally from his own encounters with overlapping institutions and contested regulatory mandates. More coherent frameworks could clarify which authority regulates practitioners, which oversees academic qualifications and which controls medicinal products. 

Such separation would help protect the public while creating lawful pathways for properly trained professionals. Any reform, however, will require consultation with health authorities, patients, conventional medical professionals and complementary medicine stakeholders.

An achievement and a responsibility

Nyarkotey’s story is not free of controversy. His positions on regulation have attracted criticism, and his institution has faced scrutiny. A balanced assessment must recognise those disputes without allowing them to erase the work he has undertaken. 

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Nor should international partnerships, professorial titles or two Bar calls be mistaken for proof that every proposal is sound. His legacy will depend on the standards he helps establish and the results they produce.

From Doryumu, Dodowa, Suhum-Amrahia and Teshie Lascala to Ghanata Secondary School, Banjul, India and the Ghana Bar, the arc of his journey is striking. 

Yet its next chapter may matter more than its earlier honours. If his legal training helps African countries adopt workable TCAM legislation, if his educational partnerships deliver measurable quality, and if his proposed specialist practice contributes to patient protection, the impact will extend far beyond one individual.

The first African naturopath to have qualified as a lawyer in two West African countries now faces a larger professional assignment: turning a remarkable personal achievement into durable legal and educational progress for natural medicine across Africa.

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