The formation of an association of corporate executives and other professionals in the Christ Apostolic Church International (CACI) had been the brain child
of Apostle (DR) Stephen Kwame Ntow Amoani many years before he even
became the chairman of the church. Also discussions on making such a
dream a reality had been going on among some people who ‘fought’ hard to
gain recognition for C. A. C. on the various university and polytechnic
campuses. As the writer always posed, "for how long are we going to be missed out in the church after kicking against all odds to project its image on our various campuses’’?
So many were those who heaved a sigh of relief when in the first week of February 2008, Mrs. Rebecca Duodu sent text messages to as many alumni as she could reach, inviting them to attend a meeting to discuss the role of the alumni at 2008 (Christ Apostolic
Students & Associates) CASA Congress which was to be held at Cape
Coast. That famous meeting which was held on the 1st March, 2008 at
Odorkor Central Assembly, was attended by twenty five(25) alumni whom
the writer on most occasions refers to as ‘Warriors’ because of the
struggles they went through to establish CASA on their various campuses.
The meeting was organized by 2008 CASA National Executives and
sponsored by Elder and Mrs. Duodu. It was at this meeting that a
unanimous decision was reached to form an association of CASA Alumni.
A nine member executive body, representing the various campuses where CASA was functioning was appointed and tasked to come out with the following;
» A befitting name for the group. » The motto for the group. » Scope of membership and » To reach out and encourage the alumni to attend the Congress in their numbers.
Realizing
how important branding is to an establishment like this, the interim
executives led by Mr. Albert Owusu-Boateng quickly contacted a group of
experts led by Mr. Alex Buabeng Korsah also a CASA Alumnus to help in
coming out with a befitting name for the group. After weeks of
deliberations and findings, the two groups (the interim executive body
and the consultants) came out with two names, CASA PARTNERS and CASA
PROFESSIONALS. These names were presented to the chairman of the church
to be given a spiritual touch for one to be selected.
After
having a critical look at it, the name CASA PROFESSIONALS was blessed by
Apostle (DR) Stephen Kwame Ntow Amoani to be the name of all CAC
members who have/are;
* Completed post-secondary education and are working or intend to work, * Self employed and are capable of employing others * Pursuing a post-graduate programmes or specializing in any field of study and * Professional sports personalities and artists.
The
group was then officially launched at Cape Coast during the 2008 CASA
Congress, by Apostle Percy Konotey, the director of Christian Education
of the church. The following professionals were elected to run the
affairs of the group. They were;
Albert Owusu-Boateng » President De-Graft Cherie Takyi » Vice President Maame Yaa Sarpong » Secretary Millicent Agbokemey » Financial secretary Emmanuel Opoku-Newman » Organizing Secretary Ernest Owusu » Asst. Organizing sec. Theophilus Apiagyei » Member
The
launching ceremony was chaired by Mr. Cephas Dosoo, PRO, Controller and
Accountant General’s Department who is also a member of our dear
church. Other personalities who contributed to the success of the formation of the group were;
» Apostle Dr. Emmanuel K. Donkor (CACI General Secretary) » Apostle Percy Konotey (Territorial Apostle Eastern 'A') » Apostle. Joseph Sakyi (CACI Christian Education Director) » Rev. Dr. Samuel Addai-Kusi » Rev. Osei Yaw Danquah (CASA/CASPRO Coordinator and Youth Minister) » Rev. Dr. Samuel Amponsah Frimpong » Rev Joseph Arhin » Elder Felix Duodu (Youth President) » Mrs. Rebecca Duodu All past executives of CASA, just to mention a few. Having
known how it all started and how far we have come, don’t you think as
PROFESSIONALS, we have to make a GREAT IMPACT on Our GENERATION? THE
TIME TO ACT IS NOW!