… Sets up scheme for orphans
THE Grand Lady, Most Respected Lady Sister Irene Smith-Ansah, has announced the establishment of the “Marshallan Scheme for Orphans” in line with the tenets of unity, charity and service of the Noble Order of the Ladies of Marshall.
To be linked to the ideals of the Marshallan Relief and Development Services (MAREDES), the non-governmental organisation wing of the Noble Order, MRL Sis Smith-Ansah said the scheme would focus on generating resources to bring love to orphans in the communities.
Delivering her installation address as the 27th Grand Lady in Kumasi today (August 23, 2025), she nominated Sister Juliana Ohenewa Okoh of Court 110 Airport West, Accra to be the Co- Ordinator of the scheme.
MRL Sis Smith-Ansah made a personal donation of GH¢ 50,000.00, as the seed money for the scheme.
“I will as soon as possible engage the MAREDES Board and fully brief them on the details of the project to ensure its immediate take off, targets that this love will be shared with orphans in as many communities as possible,” she stated.
GRAND COURT BUILDING PROJECT.
While acknowledging the work done by her predecessors, she promised to fully engage the committee responsible to know the progress of work and encourage sisters to fulfil their financial responsibilities in ensuring its completion.
MRL Sis Smith-Ansah pledged to organise fund raising from time to time to support the roofing of the meeting hall or decide to go for a Build, Operate and Transfer option.
To support the ongoing Supreme Council Centenary Legacy Project, she donated GH¢10,000.00 as her personal contribution.
Write up by Sir Kt Bro Albert K. Salia, Supreme IT Officer.
Read below her full address:
INSTALLATION SPEECH OF THE 27TH GRAND LADY OF THE LADIES OF MARSHALL,
MOST RESPECTED LADY SISTER IRENE SMITH-ANSAH –
23RD AUGUST, 2025
Go into the world and make disciples of all nation (Matthew 28:19)
Your Grace Archbishop, Most Rev. Fr Gabriel Yaw Anokye, Metropolitan Archbishop of Kumasi, Most Rev. Fr. Dr John Opoku Agyemang Bishop of Konongo-Mampong Diocese, Supreme Director Sir Kt. Bro Vet. Cdr. Dr E.S.K. Kwaw
My Installation Team, Past Substantive Supreme Knights, Past Substantive Grand Ladies, Rev. Bro. Sir Knights present, Most Respected Ladies, Deputy Supreme Knight, Deputy Grand Lady, State Noble Ladies, Respected Ladies, Rev. Fr. Brothers, My Beautiful Sisters.
I thank God for the life of all of you present and I am even more grateful for the gift of life today. This is the day the Lord has made, especially for me. Let us all be glad and rejoice in it. He has done great and marvellous things in my life, Holy is His Mighty name.
Today I ascend this throne with mixed feelings, the feeling of joy and Humility. I deeply admire the Grand Court and its enfine membership, for the honour and privilege to be installed as the 27th Grand Lady.
I pray that God’s Spirit will be upon me, so that, my tenure will be a period of Peace, Love, Joy and progress for all. My sisters and brothers present, as I assume this highest role of the Ladies of Marshall, I pledge my total commitment to the ideals and tenets of our Order. I will do everything in my power to promote the welfare, and harmony which have already been imbibed in our Order by my predecessors.
As the Grand Lady, I will abide by the Rules, Rituals, Regulations and the Constitution of our Noble Order and I will humbly demand that all sisters will do same to bring honour not only to the Order but to God our creator, Mother Mary, Our Mediatrix and our Holy Mother the Catholic Church. My tenure of office is two years, during this period, I will focus on three main objectives. These are:
1. DEEPEN OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR GOD BY REGULARLY REMINDING OURSELVES OF OUR DIVINE RESPONSIBILITIES AS MARSHALLIANS: toward one another, the Nation, the Church and Humanity as a whole. Sisters we are privileged to have very rich Rituals instituted by our founders and strengthened by my predecessors.
As my determined efforts to deepen in our spirituality, I will at this point implore sisters to deeply reflect on our Opening and Closing Prayer in our Regular Court Meeting Ritual book which are Psalm 27:1-8 for Opening and Psalm 70:1-4 for Closing. There’s nothing more profound in living our Christian tenets than living these two charges referred to what we profess and guide us to love genuinely and truthfully.
2. PRACTICALISE OUR TENETS OF UNITY, CHARITY AND SERVICE.
Sisters, charity is love. We are encouraged to love one another, love all even the less privileged in our society. It is in vein that I bring on broad what I have named “MARSHALLAN SCHEME FOR ORPHANS”
This is a project which will focus on generating resources to bring love to orphans in our communities. it will be linked to the existing ideals of the MARSHALLAN RELIEF AND DEVELOPMENT SERVICES(MAREDES)and its day to day running will be fully operated by our NGO (MAREDES). In this regard I have nominated a sister Philanthropist in the person of Sister Juliana Ohenewa Okoh of Court 110 Airport West, Accra to be a Co- Ordinator of the scheme. She therefore becomes an automatic member of the existing Board of MAREDES and shall be responsible for ensuring the sustainability and enforcement of same regularly.
Sisters, standing on the existing protocols which I have meticulously updated already, I hereby donate Fifty Thousand Ghana Cedis (GH¢ 50,000.00), as the seed money for the work assigned. I will as soon as possible engage the MAREDES Board and fully brief them on the details of the project to ensure its immediate take off, targets that this love will be shared with orphans in as many communities as possible.
3. PURSUE THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE GRAND COURT BUILDING PROJECT.
This is a beautiful and useful venture started by my predecessors. Structures have already been put in place for the progress of work. I will fully engage the committee responsible to know the progress of work and encourage sisters to fulfil their financial responsibilities in ensuring its completion. I know by the grace of God my kind hearted Sisters will support. We will organise fund raising from time to time to support the roofing of the meeting hall. We can decide to go B.O.T which means Build, Operate and Transfer. I also donate an amount of Ten Thousand Ghana Cedis (GH¢10,000.00) as my widows might to support the Supreme Council Centenary Legacy Project which is ongoing in Sekondi, which is so dear to my heart. I pray that the Good Lord will help us to fulfil our dream. I donate a set of Altar Ritualistic articles to the Grand Court including a Marian Statue.
I will at this point of my speech want to show my heartfelt appreciation to my Lord Archbishop Most Rev. Fr. Gabriel Yaw Anokye, my Installation Team, MRL Sis. Dame Theresa Pobee, MRL Sis. Margret Gaisie-Essilifie, MRL Sis. Dr. Dame Agatha Akua Bonney and my Lord Bishop Most Rev. Dr. John Opoku Agyemang for making time off their very busy schedule to make my day special.
I would also like to thank the Late Sir Kt. Bro. Kwadwo Ofori-Kuragu for his encouragement. Dame Cecilia Senchery, MRL Sis. Agnes Gifty Amofah, MRL Sis. Elizabeth Moses, MRL Sis. Agnes Alberta Sekyi-Hughes, MRL Sis. Mary Agagee, MRL Sis. Dame Margaret Yirenkyi, MRL Sis. Alice Stella Ayebi, MRL Sis. Grace Badu-Smith, MRL Sis. Elizabeth Anderson Yebuah, Late MRL Sis. Victoria Yellu, I can not end my appreciation without mentioning the name of the late MRL Sis. Janet Edith Mmieh, the initiator of the laudable Grand Court Project and the late MRL Sis. Elizabeth Adu-Addae who introduced me to the Noble Order. May their souls rest peacefully in the Lord. I thank Sir Kt. Sir. Prof. George Wireku-Brobbey for his encouragement. Special thanks goes to Most Respected Lady Sister Patricia Dunenye my predecessor for her directions and assistance.
I do appreciate all Sisters and Brothers who I have encountered in diverse ways for their encouragement, mentorship, prayers and support which has brought me this far in my Marshallian journey. I wish I could mention their names individually but for the sake of time, please allow me to say collectively to you all that I am grateful. I will be eternally grateful. God bless you all.
I take this opportunity also to thank my family and children for always encouraging and supporting me.
Long live the Noble Order of Knights and Ladies of Marshall
Long Live the Catholic Church
God bless us all.