GYE NYAME CATHOLIC CULTURAL GROUP
The Cultural Group was created by Rev. Fr. Joseph Ernest Arthur at the beginning of the year 2004. The intention was to prepare a group which could perform to portray African rich culture when necessary. The group was initially made up of the following performers;
Love Hopewell, Mary Sarpong, Janet Begel, Jennifer Begel, Coker Gramlich, Ernest Ampadu, George Boateng, Benard Boateng.
In April 2005, our Church was included in the program of the 20th World´s Youth Day which was held in Cologne from 19th to 21st August 2005. In the program, our youth were to accompany the Offertory, dancing to the tune of “Adowa” music. In view of this a cultural performance group was formed. With the Adowa dance the performers accompanied the Offertory over a distance of about 200 meters to the Altar. This was also the first appearance of the present Pope Benedict XVI in Germany (his native country) and the first greatest achievement of the group. The group was made up of the following performers;
Whitney Anita Koopmann, Bettina Finkbeiner, Coker Gramlich
Dennis Oppong, Ernest Ampadu, Hazel Achia Oppong
Jennifer Begel, Leona Agyemang, Love Hopewell
Lydia Hoppe, Orryana Ackah, Pamela Hoppe
Rev. Fr. Joseph E. Arthur, Queenly Agyemang
Mary Opoku, Janet Begel, Illona Breuer, Benard Boateng
After this performance the name of the group spread all over the Archdiocess of Cologne. Hence they have been performing, on invitations for diverse purposes. They performed also during special Church receptions and gatherings for prominent Catholic Church Leaders eg. The visitation of Bishop Dr. Heiner Koch, who is in charge of foreign Catholics in our area and the 2-day visit of the Archbishop Emeritus Peter Akwasi Sarpong, on5th – 6th of September 2009.
There have also been performances in Holland. The group visited the SMA Fathers in Cadier en Keer to entertain them and help them through our performances, refresh their memories of Ghana and also to help them portray it to their countrymen who are also interested in that. The group performed for the last time under Rev. Fr. Joseph Ernest Arthur in Valkenburg, a small town in Holland.