The Missionary Sisters of the Holy Rosary (MSHR), Ghana Region, have presented textbooks in Christian Religious Studies (CRS) and Bibles to over 100 Form 2 and 3 students of the Donkorkrom Agricultural Senior High School (DASHS) in the Kwahu Afram Plains North District, Eastern Region of Ghana, to enhance study.
The purchase and distribution of textbooks to the students was made possible through the intervention of Sr. Joy Abuh MSHR, who lives and works in the Apostolic Vicariate of Donkorkrom as a teacher of Christian Religious Studies (CRS) and serves as the Chaplain at DASHS.
Addressing the beneficiaries, who were her students, as well as colleagues during the May 21, 2025 handing-in ceremony at the school, Sr. Abuh recalled that in her over 10 years as a CRS teacher at DASHS, one of the major challenges faced was the inability of students to buy textbooks for the subject, largely due to poverty, and in a few cases, lack of interest on the part of the learners, who might not even see the need to acquire the books.
She further shared that against this backdrop, and the need to see her students- most especially the final year students – succeed in their studies and exams, she was moved to approach her Religious Congregation in the United States to help source funds to enable her to purchase books for the students and enhance their learning.
Thanks to the funds received from the MSHR Development Office in the USA, managed by Srs. Ellen Anderson and Ifeoma Onwudinjo, MSHR, Sr. Abuh reported to have been able to purchase 200 Christian Religious Studies (CRS) textbooks and 100 Bibles, to be shared among the Form 2 and 3 students of the subject, who were bereft of these books.
The school Chaplain entreated the students to pray for the donors and urged them to make good use of the books.
She said students who take the time to read the book judiciously will score an ‘A’ in CRS, as the book is well-designed to serve especially for exam purposes, with questions and answers embedded.
She added that if the students take their time to read the Bible critically, they will not find themselves wanting in the exams, as most of the objective questions come directly from the Bible.
She further shared the firm belief that there is nobody who labours hard for something that will not achieve good results, as she encouraged the students to burn their midnight candles, and God will see them through. “I desire that you make your papers,” she remarked.
Mr. Awuni Baba, Headmaster of DASHS, expressed gratitude to the Congregation of the Missionary Sisters of the Holy Rosary, represented by Sr. Joy Abuh, for the grand gesture, which he described as a “yeoman’s job”.
For him, the provision of textbooks to the learners was “a very good initiative,” as he reaffirmed the fact that most students of DASHS find it very difficult to get money to buy books.
Buttressing further on this point, the Headmaster attributed the poor performance of the Literature students in the 2024 West African Certificate Examination (WACE) results to the fact that the students never bought the books.
“So, for you to have come out with this initiative, I want to say, God richly bless you. Wherever the money was taken from, I pray that Almighty God will replenish it a million times,” he appreciated.
Further testifying to the scarcity of Christian Religious Studies textbooks in the country, the Head, described the offer as a “Divine intervention” in the lives of the students, and likening the WACE to “an abyss” which the learners must either cross or fall into, he charged them to do all in their capacity to cross it, using the help offered them. 
He urged the students to make judicious use of the God-given opportunity, which was the fruit of the sacrifice of some persons, who could have chosen to use their money for other purposes. He said, “God will not be happy with you if you do not use the books. If you know that you are going to take these books and dump them, leave them with us”.
He further assured Sr. Abuh, on behalf of the students, that with the books received, the school will not be expecting anything below a ‘B’ grade from the beneficiaries, as a way of appreciating the donors.
“If you make good use of this offer, more will come your way,” he added.
Dodza Yayera, the Senior Prefect expressed immense joy and gratitude to Sr. Abuh for her initiative, saying, “All the years you have spent here, you have set a record for us, and your good works have followed you; we are most grateful”.
“We will not disappoint you,” she added, promising that the gesture will remain a bond between them, and that the books they have benefited from will yield good results that will make a record for the school.
Present at the ceremony were Mr. Emmanuel Adablah, Assistant Head – Administration, Mr. Cletus Kwotuah, Professional Learning Community (PLC) Coordinator, Mr. Daniel Larbi, Head of General Arts Department; Mr. Kessie Amankwah Kenneth, CRS teacher, Mr. Asante Kwabena Daniel, Mathematics teacher, and Assistant Chaplain.
As a school Chaplain and Spiritual guide, Sr. Abuh, the Missionary Sister, representing the Congregation at DASHS, supports the students spiritually. Apart from her teaching work, she organises resource persons from various walks of life to enlighten the students on various topics, academically and otherwise.
By Sr. Sylvie Lum Cho, MSHR (Sister Communicator/DEPSOCOM, Donkorkrom Apostolic Vicariate)
