What You Need to Know about the Alfons Merten’s Centre at Donkorkrom

The Alfons Merten Centre (AMC), located on the compound of the St. Francis Xavier Cathedral, Donkorkrom, is the present Pastoral Centre for training, formation and hospitality/recreational facility for the Apostolic Vicariate of Donkorkrom.

It was built by the late Rev. Fr. Alfons Merten, SVD, originally to serve the needs of the young people of the Catholic Youth Organisation (CYO).

Rev. Fr. Alfons Merten was a German Divine Word Missionary (SVD) who began his mission in the Afram Plains in 1972.

He was the Parish Priest of St. Mary Mother of God Catholic Church, Adeemmra, which was for a very long time, the lone Parish in the whole of Afram Plains. From Adeemmra, he took care of all the Stations, including the then St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, now the Cathedral Church of the Vicariate and the Seat of the Bishop, the Most Rev. John Alphonse Asiedu, SVD.

Fr. Merten forsaw that Donkorkrom being the District Capital, had a potential for growth and expansion, and so began some developmental work there, the fruit of which is the present Alfons Merten’s Centre.

He served in the Afram Plains for about 24 years; between 1970 unil his death which occurred during his home leave in Germany on 9th September 1994. He died at the age of sixty-nine (69).
Fr. Merten was a good friend of the late President John Jerry Rawlings.

It was said that he opened the eyes of President Rawlings to the reality of the Afram Plains, reason why the area till date, enjoys Electricity, which was the result of the construction of a hydro-electric dam at Akossombo.

History also has it that the patches of tarred roads in the Afram Plains today was thanks to the good works of Fr. Merten in collaboration with the then President.
May their gentle souls rest in perfect peace with Our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen!

Following the passing-on of the SVD Priest, the name of the CYO Centre was changed to the Alfons Merten’s Centre, to honour his memory for the great job he did in the Afram Plains. Rev. Fr. Alfons Merten continues to be a household name in the whole of Afram Plains till date.

Despite the fact that the Centre was created for pastoral activities, it can also be used by other organisations such as Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), Kwahu Afram Plains North District Assembly, Ghana Education Service and Political Parties, i.e. NDC, NPP etc.

Besides offering space for Conferences, workshops and recreation, the Alfons Merten’s Centre also offers two categories of accommodation – a bungalow unit and a dormitory unit to the Church and the public at large at an affordable fee.

Individuals also can access the Centre for accommodation.

The set-up of the Centre is made up of ten bungalow units that has detached bathrooms and toilets i.e. water closets, WC facilities.

There are nine dormitory rooms with a total of 84 beds available. The bathrooms are enclosed cubicles for male and female separated, and the toilets are KVIP.

The Centre also has a Conference hall with a capacity of 100 people, a kitchen which can occupy 10 cooking staff and a dinning hall which can take 50 persons. Also available is a store-room, underground water-tanks and a park for physical exercises and games.

In a bid to make the Alfons Merten’s Centre more productive and income generating, a restaurant was opened there for the general public on January 22, 2025.

It was a new venture to make food for sale at affordable prices to the many workers and others, within the Donkorkrom township.

The Catering service also accepts orders for birthday parties, funerals and any other social function that may require their services.

The Alfons Merten’s Centre operates secretarial services including photocopying, typing, binding, lamination, among others, to the general public.

It also has canopies, chairs, tables and mattresses for renting out to the general public at affordable prices.

Apart from creating job opportunities to some young people in the area, and the monetary gain from it, the Alfons Merten’s Centre is also another approach to evangelisation.

The current Director of the Alfons Merten’s Centre is Bro. Samuel Elorm Dagadu, SVD.