The leadership of the Noble Order in Berekum has been charged to help save Council No. 23 and Court No. 14 from collapse.
According to the Supreme Knight, Sir Kt. Joseph Ekow Paintsil, and the Grand Lady, MRL Sis. Margaret Yirenkyi, who made the call at separate meetings with brothers and sisters of Berekum, the once boisterous and vibrant Council and Court in the Brong Ahafo region, was now a pale shadow of itself.
In what was described as one of the most privileged occasions in the Noble Order, Council No. 23 and Court No. 14 (Berekum) on Saturday, March 14, 2015 hosted the Supreme Knight and Grand Lady at meetings of council and court respectively.
The Supreme Knight was accompanied by W/Bro. George Yelkuri Dorsaah,Brong Ahafo Regional Grand Knight, W/Bro. Albert Salia, Supreme Information Technologist, and W/Bro. Charles Cobb, Assistant Supreme Propagandist responsible for Ashanti and Brong Ahafo regions.
In a welcome address, the Grand Knight, Bro. Anthony Kipo Siakony, alluded to the challenge in organizing meetings as only a hand full of members of the Council were active.
Response
The Supreme Knight pointed to the fact that Council No. 23 which was inaugurated and consecrated on September 3, 1966 would mark its 50th anniversary next year.
In years gone by the council was the most vibrant in the Brong Ahafo Region.
He said its vibrancy was what made it the first council to open a court in the Brong Ahafo region.
Unfortunately, he said, that glorious history of the Council was under threat as the council which at a point had well over 100 active members, could now count less than 20.
The Supreme Knight called for greater support for the junior council and court of Council No. 23 and Court No. 14, that is, 26J ‘Morning Star’ so that it can serve as recruiting grounds for the Adult Council and Court.
During 30 minutes of interactive session, a brother lamented the neglect of old and sick brothers by the Council on grounds that they were non financial, in one such case the Council refused to bury a brother who was said to be delinquent.
The Supreme Knight in a response reminded all brothers about the motto of the Noble Order, namely Unity, Fraternity, Charity and Service.
He also said all brothers must invest whilst they are strong and healthy.
He pointed to the operation of the Marshallan Security Trust (MST) and the need for every brother to contribute to that fund. He gave the example of a brother of Council No. 109 (New Aplaku), whose nominated beneficiaries received GH¢34,000 on demise of the brother.
The Supreme Knight also spoke about the need for brothers to shun the Pull-Him-Down attitude that was prevalent in councils. He called for total support for the Grand Knight whom he described as the CEO of the Council.
He commended the GK, Bro. Anthony Kipo Siakony, for his mastery of council rituals and efficient conduct of council meeting.
The Supreme Knight also challenged the current members of the council to live a legacy of a Temple for the next generation of Marshallans.
He prayed that at his next visit to the council as a Past Supreme Knight, the council meeting would be held in a temple and not in a classroom or chapel of the Holy Family Hospital.
Grand Lady
At the meeting with sisters of Court No. 14, the Grand Lady also lamented that the Noble Order in Berekum was dying.
She observed that out of the 30 active members at the meeting she counted less than five sisters below 30 years.
To continue in that way would mean within the next 10 years the court would have less than 10 active members.
Speaking on behalf of Senior Officers, MRL Sis. Christiana Amo Appiah, MRL Sis. Margaret Rose Kyei, RL Sis. Angela Opoku Samaah and Sis. Scholastica Maalinyuur all promised that Court No. 13 would not cease to operate whilst they remain with the Court.
The Noble Lady, Sis. Agnes Felicia Badu Bommo, also promised that next year the Court would add more young ladies to guarantee its future growth.
All members of Court No. 14 made a pledge to revive the court.
During the court meeting their was exchange of gifts with the Grand Lady presenting a basket of toffees and candies to Court No. 14, whilst the court in turn gave the Grand Lady and her entourage, made up of the Grand Secretary, RL Sis. Christiana Buadu, Brong Ahafo Regional Noble Lady, RL Sis. Gertrude Kunfa, and Sis. Theresa Osei Bonsu, Regional Auditor of Ashanti-Denkyira Court parcelled gifts.
By Bro Kojo Vieta, BEREKUM