The Tamale Ecclesiastical Province Partnership in Action (TEPPIA) is an NGO and the development wing of the Tamale Ecclesiastical Province of the Catholic Church.
According to the 2010 population and housing census, the Catholic church in Ghana constitutes about 13-15% of the national population. The contribution and impact of the Catholic church in Ghana far exceeds its numerical strength. Through the Catholic Church’s neutrality and objectivity on issues of national development, the Catholic Bishops stand out as voice of reason especially when the country gets to the crossroad on critical national issues. The mass outreach of the Catholic Church across the country including the poorest and remotest villages makes it possible for the vulnerable to access basic social services such as education, health and water.
The community presence of the Catholic church and the experience in working with poor people remains the most important trump card of the church.
The church is endowed with human resources, expertise, accumulated experiences and networks as well as the physical assets which puts the church in a position of advantage over other institutions especially in northern Ghana. This is further demonstrated by the number of first grade schools in Ghana that have consistently recorded remarkable performance and the quality of products churned out. The Catholic church is also credited for contributing to improved health delivery in deprived catchment areas targeting people who have been left out due to cost barriers.
There is little the church cannot achieve in the field of development if it decides to put its best foot forward. This statement was echoed in many of the discussions the Ag. Executive Director held with the TEP Bishops. This is uplifting and apt as we re-boot TEPPIA.
The Archbishop and his brother Bishops of the Province have given a lot of their time and attention to the issue of reviving TEPPIA, the development wing of TEPPCON.
Positioning TEPPIA as value-adding
The justification for the establishment of TEPPIA is that it is adding value to what the dioceses are already doing to mobilize resources for the development of the province and not to duplicate or compete. Its purpose is to harness the advantages that a provincial framework offers and contribute to strengthening the diocesan efforts.
- Vision:
TEPPIA’ vision is to be TEPPCON’s leading development organization of excellence.
- Mission:
Like TEPCON, TEPPIA’s mission is to harness its commitment to the social teachings of the church which is centered around “a preferential option for the poor”, “care for the natural environment” and “love of neighbour as thyself” into practical interventions towards ending extreme poverty, creating jobs and restoring the environment in northern Ghana.
- Capabilities:
TEPPIA brings to this mission a wealth of the church’s distinctive and impressive array of assets and resources (spiritual, human, financial and material), and presence in virtually every community across northern Ghana that can be harnessed to develop programmes and projects that are sustainable and impactful.
- Objectives:
To facilitate and mobilise, and manage resources effectively for development and account for results; to develop strategic programmes and projects of a provincial nature or in support of diocesan efforts; to foster coordination and networking for coherence and impact; to strengthen the capacities of the TEPPIA’s project implementation partners, including their management systems; and to ensure effective monitoring and evaluation of programmes and projects.
- Values:
TEPPIA’s work is underpinned by values that are rooted in the social teachings of the church combined with dedication to professionalism, transparency and accountability.
- Partnerships:
TEPPIA will prioritise working in partnerships and collectively with the DDCs. Strategic partnerships are necessary to mobilise resources and deliver services effectively and efficiently, and to be able to take development projects to scale and sustain their impacts.
- Advocacy and strategic policy engagements:
TEPPIA will be a vehicle for the prophetic mission of the church in the Tamale Ecclesiastical Province in the pursuit of justice, protection of the poor and marginalized and stewardship of the natural environment.
- Managing TEPPIA
As a faith-based organization TEPPIA will be managed in accordance with both conventional and Christian management principles to ensure sustainability, accountability and growth. TEPPIA will attract and retain quality human resources and able to mobilize significant funding for the projects it embarks on to meet the socio-economic needs of communities in northern Ghana.
TEPPIA’s programmatic strengths looks as follows:
Board of TEPPIA Inaugurated
A thirteen-member Board of TEPPIA has been inaugurated on by the Metropolitan Archbishop of Tamale and President of TEPPCON, Most Rev Philip Naameh Tamale. The Archbishop before the inauguration, indicated his appreciation to the Ag. Director and the members of the board for accepting to serve on the board and also appealed to them to work to help achieve the aims and objectives of TEPPIA
The Bishops of the Tamale Ecclesiastical Province of the Catholic Church in Ghana, comprising Most Rev Philip Naameh, Tamale Archdiocese, Most Rev Vincent Sowah Boi Nai, Bishop of the Diocese of Yendi, Most Rev Peter Paul Angkyier, Bishop of the Diocese of Damongo, Most Rev Alfred Agyenta, Bishop of Navrongo-Bolgatanga, and Most Richard K. Baawobr Mf, Bishop of the Diocese of Wa, are the Trustees. The Ag Executive Director Mr Charles Abugre has accepted to lead this NGO to begin action.
