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Rev. Prof. Dorothy BEA Akoto, first female Vice President of Trinity Theological Seminary
Reverend Professor Dorothy BEA Akoto and her husband Reverend Dr. Johnny Yao Akoto.
After over its 80 years of existence, the Trinity Theological Seminary ((TTS) located in Legon in the Greater Accra Region, had its first female Vice President from 2020- 23.
It was a typical example of women breaking the glass ceiling all over the world with Reverend Professor Dorothy BEA Akoto adding up to the number of trailblazers globally. She served for three years in this enviable yet challenging position.
Interestingly, this is a lady who was touted a ‘failure’ and was shunned by many until her rise to the rank of Professor, in TTS, Legon.
Born at Akuse in the Eastern Region to a former Moderator of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Ghana (EPCG), Very Reverend Andrew Kwami Abutiate and Mrs Josephine Afi Wosordoe Adonu Attipoe Abutiate both of blessed memory from Avatime, Biakpa and Anyarko/ Asadame respectively, both in the Volta Region , she has always been determined to make a difference wherever she finds herself with faith in the Lord.
Speaking to The Spectator, Rev. Prof. Akoto the Immediate Past Vice President for the TTS said, it is always good to be the first to do something.
Rev. Prof. Akoto was also the first female Professor Reverend Minister of the EPCG and also the first female to operate a Massey Fergusson Tractor in Ghana in 1973-1975 while she was a student of the Mawuli School, Ho from 1969-1977 – a feat that was featured in Student World Magazine at the time and interviewed on Radio Ghana and on national television.
She is currently a Lecturer in Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) Biblical Hebrew Language and Gender Studies at the TTS. She is also the District Pastor of the Adenta District of the EPCG.
She recalled her journey had not been an easy one but ‘with God on my side, through prayer and family’s encouragement’, she has become a woman many are proud of.
One of her challenges was when she practically became an object of disappointment when she married at the age of 22 and had a son after the Upper Sixth form at a time when many classmates, family members, teachers, friends and well-wishers expected her to attend university especially having been on national television and excelling academically.
“Some condemned and labelled me a drop-out. When my son was seven months, my husband and I agreed that I entered the university and after that, I became an English teacher and at a point was national trainer of teachers in Primary, Middle, JSS, Secondary school and Teacher Training College in Ghana,” she disclosed.
Determined to achieve greater heights, she continued schooling and had three other children within the period.
The Reverend Minister described that period of her life as a time of fulfilment as “many who saw me as a failure, often advise their own daughters to follow my example.”
She had her basic education in various E.P Primary Schools in various places due to the nature of her father’s itinerant Pastoral Ministry and her mother, a Home Economics Teacher namely with E.P Primary School in Akpafu, Todzi.
She also went to the Ho International School, SNAPS Kindergarten School in Accra, John F. K Memorial Preparatory School, Accra, St. John’s Preparatory School on Mile Seven, Nsawam Road.
She proceeded to the Mawuli School, in the Volta Region for the General Certificate Examination- GCE ‘O’ Level and GCE ‘A’ Level and then to the Cape Coast University Institute of Education ATTC, Winneba, where she graduated with a Diploma in English.
The Immediate Past Vice President for the TTS also attended the Johnson C. Smith Seminary of the Interdenominational Theological Center (JCSS of ITC), USA and graduated with a Dual Degree, Master of Divinity (MDiv) and Master of Arts in Christian Education (MACE), and to the Emory University Candler School of Theology (EU, CST) for a Master of Theology (ThM).
She further went to the Union-Presbyterian School of Christian Education (UNION-PSCE), also in the USA where she graduated with a Master of Theology (ThM).
Determined to add more value to herself, she proceeded to the Chicago Theological Seminary (CTS), and graduated with a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in Hebrew Bible, Culture and Hermeneutics.
She is married to Reverend Dr. Johnny Yao Akoto, a retired Reverend Minister of the E.P Church, Ghana and Retired Reverend Minister of the Norvisi-Friendship Presbyterian Church in the USA.
They have four biological children, several other children and four grandchildren.
She advises the youth to make the fear of God their priority, always read the Bible and pray in order to make their ways pure.
“They should also eschew pride, envy, animosity, dishonesty, get-rich-quick syndrome, emigration for greener pastures, laziness and peer pressure to commit immoral acts.”
She also advised women who marry early to continue to pursue their dreams.
Reverend Professor Akoto is also an author and some of her books include, ‘Lord, Teach Us to Pray,’ ‘Proverbs and the African Tree of Life,’ ‘Grafting Proverbs 25-29 onto Ewe Proverbs,’ and ‘African Theology/ies.’
She also published numerous articles in Books, Journals and Academic Resources in various parts of Africa, Asia, USA and Europe.
A few of her articles are “The Mother and First Born Daughter of the Ewe People as a Good Shepherd,” “Women and Health and the Trokosi Practice,” “An Issue of Women’s and Children’s Health” and “Marriage in the Bible and the Traditional Kusakorkor Marriage Ceremony among the Avatime People of Central Volta.”
From Dzifa Tetteh Tay, Tema
Education Minister Haruna Iddrissu has announced that government is working to make education free for all learners with special needs, with funding expected to come from GETFund.
He shared the plan during a press briefing with the media.
According to him, an initial estimate shows that the policy will require between 65 million and 100 million cedis every year.
He noted that GETFund currently has a budget of 9 million cedis, and with proper adjustments, it should be possible for the fund to release about 100 million cedis every other year to support the policy.
Mr Iddrissu added that government is also committed to providing free tertiary education for all persons with disabilities.
He explained that the support will go beyond classroom learning and will include feeding and the provision of assistive learning devices for learners with special needs.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Ghana’s singing Prophet, Joseph Atarah, has released a video for his new song dubbed ‘Increase’. The video was directed and shot by renowned director, Sky Web.
The motivational video exhibits captivating dance moves, set against the vibrant and beautiful city of Accra. Prophet Atarah co-wrote the song with Nana Boateng.
Touching on the message during an interview on Hitz FM’s Daybreak Hitz, he said, ‘Increase’ is a motivational song telling people not to give up in their present situation. According to him, with determination and a relentless desire to succeed, God will make everything beautiful.
“As you trust in God’s plan, remember that ‘INCREASE’ is on the way. Just as seeds grow into harvest, your faith is growing into abundance. God’s got you, and His increase is surrounding you,” he added.
Prophet Atarah resigned from the military band in 2006 after an encounter with God to start his prophetic ministry and commenced his music journey about four years ago.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
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