An Accra-based couple, Elder Patrick Kwame and Mrs. Gifty Danso, of the Abeka District of The Church of Pentecost, has constructed a state-of-the-art palace for the Akim Asene community in the Eastern Region.
The magnificent palace, which was constructed at the total cost of GHS 2.1million, was commissioned last month and handed over to the chiefs and people of Asene.
Elder Danso, CEO of MEMPHIS Metropolitan Construction Limited, and his wife alone footed the entire cost of the project.
The grand commissioning ceremony was attended by the Member of Parliament (MP) for Asene-Manso-Akroso Constituency, Honourable George Kwame Aboagye; the Clergy from various denominations in the area, including Pastor William Kwasi Kyere of the Akim Asene District of The Church of Pentecost, Nana Karikari Apau Frimpong II (Chief of Akim Asene), Ohemaa Akua Asantewaa II (Kotokuhemaa), Nana Otoobuor Djan Kwasi II (Aburihene), Obrempong Sintim Poku III (Akim Mansohene and Kotoku Benkumhene), Nana Afia Kesiwaa I (Asenehemaa), as well as the residents of the community.
Sod-cutting for the project was performed on July 15, 2017, by Pastor Aaron Teye-Kwesi, the then District Minister for Asene District of The Church of Pentecost, with actual construction starting on April 16, 2018.
A committee headed by Nana Amoa Daadom, the Gyaasehene of Akim Asene, was set up to take charge of the building project. Nana Amoa Daadom is also a member of The Church of Pentecost in Akim Asene.
Elder Patrick Danso and his wife, Mrs. Deaconess Gifty Agyare Danso, are both natives of Akim Asene.
According to Elder Danso, he decided to construct the palace in honour of his late grandmother, Madam Elizabeth Ganson, and her mother-in-law, Nana Afua Boadua I, the late Queenmother of Akim Asene.
The Akim Asene old palace, located in the Kotoku Traditional Area, was constructed by Nana Poakwa, the late chief of Akim Asene, some 300 years ago.
The building became weak since it was a mud house and had been there for a long time.
The District Assembly and a few other generous people used to help with the repairs of the old palace.
Elder Frank Kwasi Nkansah, a former presiding elder of Asene central assembly of The Church of Pentecost, also used to donate blocks to repair the old palace. He was one of the notable persons who supported the construction of the new palace.
Despite the regular repairs, the structure became unsafe for use. As a result, the chief and his elders decided to construct a new structure. When Elder Danso and his wife were consulted, they took over the entire project till its completion.
Report by Pastor Williams Kwasi Kyere, Asene District.