MARY, MOTHER OF GOD ORPHANAGE
Ghana
Who We Are
About The Founder
Reverend Father Godfred Appiah-Marfo
Reverend Fr. Godfred Appiah-Marfo is a Catholic Priest from Ghana in the West Coast of Africa, sharing boundaries with Burkina Faso, Togo/Benin and Cote D’Ivoire. He was born in a village called Nyadeyeya in the Ashanti Region in the Amansie West District of Ghana on March 4, 1969, to Dominic Akwasi Appiah of blessed memory (deceased), a Basic School Headteacher and a Catechist, and Theresah Adwoa Nsiah (still alive). He was the fourth child of a family of eight, Father's first two siblings and his father, passed away leaving Father the second in the family of seven, two male and two female siblings. The remaining children and their mother were surrounded by the members of the extended family.
Father Godfred had his basic education at Nyadeyeya Roman Catholic Primary School and Nwineso no. 3 Local Authority Middle School finishing in 1983. He responded to the calling of God into the ministry of the priesthood and started at the Minor Seminary from 1984 to 1992 to complete his Ordinary and Advanced Level courses. He studied Philosophy in St. Paul’s Catholic Seminary at Sowutuom, Accra, and continued his Theological studies in St. Peter’s Regional Seminary, Pedu, Cape Coast, Ghana and graduated 2000 with a Degree in Theology and Sociology. He was ordained to the Priesthood on the 8th of July, 2000. Subsequently he was assigned as a curate at the Cathedral Church of St. Thomas, Obuasi for two Years and then transferred to St. Peter’s Church at Jacobu as Acting Parish Priest.
In 2003, Reverend Godfred Appiah Marfo was sent to the Pontifical University of Urbaniana in Rome to study Canon Law and obtained Licentiate Degree in Canon Law in 2006. He returned to Ghana in October 2006 and worked in his Diocese of Obuasi from 2006 to 2023. Within that period, he held the positions of diocesan Chancellor and Judicial Vicar, Advocate of the Kumasi Provincial Tribunal, Promoter of Justice, Vicar for marriages, member of Bishop’s Consultors, diocesan Senator and Parish priest of St. Joseph, Esaase for five years, Holy Trinity, Anyinam for five years, St. Anthony, Esereso for five years and Immaculate Heart of Mary, Abompe for four years. Currently, he is on Sabbatical leave, working in the diocese of Richmond, Virginia in USA and holding the office of the parochial Vicar of St. Bridget Parish and a Judge and Promoter of Justice in the Diocesan Tribunal of Richmond. Father Godfred will move to his new parish assignment in Ladysmith, Virginia as of July 1, 2024. Reverend Fr. Godfred Appiah-Marfo has great interest in sports and music and a deep heart for charity and support for the poor and the suffering especially, the orphans and widows.
Cecilia coordinating food distribution.
Fr. Godfred's dear mother Theresa Nsiah & niece Cecilia visiting friends
Management and Staffing of Mary, Mother of God Orphanage
Father Godfred has organized a model for the proposed staffing and worker positions that will enable
the orphanage to function while ensuring the safety and needs of the children being cared for.
In the first phase of development, Fr. Godfred will be the Director and Coordinator of Affairs.
He will assign a Directress who will oversee the day-to-day operations and management of the orphanage,
the physical property, and any ongoing projects in the facility.
There will be a Local Coordinator who will keep track of the
records of each child and the scheduling of their activities,
where they go to school (several options exist in the area),
their transportation, their sports activities, etc.
A Nurse will be on site to monitor the health of the children and coordinate with local hospitals and doctors
for any further medical a child may need outside the orphanage.
A Head Teacher will oversee the education needs of each child.
The older children who will attend school nearby and
will be monitored for progress and aided with tutoring if needed.
The younger children will be taught on the premises with the aid of at least one additional
Teacher's Assistant during this phase.
All lessons will be infused with Christian perspectives and sensibilities.
A Director of Physical Education will be in place to keep each child active and help develop
athletic skills and teamwork amongst the children.
This person will also coordinate social activities that will teach
the children proper interaction skills and manners.
A thorough screening of all employees and volunteers will be enforced, keeping the safety and
well-being of the children as the primary focus of this Christ-centered operation.
