Presbyter Mrs. Joyce Dieu Donné Ahiabor (Nee Sedziafa) was born on the 20 th of August 1960, at Dzelukope near Keta to Major Johnson Kwami Agbeko Sedziafa (DSO) (Rtd.) of Anyako-Woeto in the Volta Region and the late Madam Gladys Aku Dosavi-Sosu
of Lokossa in Mono Region in the Republic of Benin and Blekusu in the Volta Region of Ghana. She is the second born of ten siblings and the first female child of her parents. She grew up with the mother who was a Seamstress and staunch Christian who became
a Presbyter. She was baptised and confirmed into the Evangelical Presbyterian Church.
She however accepted Christ as her Lord and personal Saviour in 1984. She was
groomed in the Lord by Rev. and Mrs. F.M. Agbo and the late Presbyter Mrs. Comfort
Aku Senya-Gane. Since then she has not relented in her commitment and serving the
Lord.
She had her basic education at Dzelukope E. P. Primary School from 1965 to 1971. She
had her Middle School education at Sunyani International from 1971 to 1973. She passed
the Common Entrance Examination and gained admission to Keta Secondary School for
her O’ Level from 1973 to 1978.
After her ‘O’ Level in 1978, she gained admission to Elegance Beauty School and was awarded Diploma in Ladies Hairdressing in 1980. To add more value to her work, she later completed a course in Floral Art to become a successful florist.
With an ardent desire for ministry, she obtained a Diploma from Victory Bible School in 1997. She also received a Diploma from International Theological Seminary in 2004. Mrs. Ahiabor taught on the Ewe primer at the National Functional Literacy Campaign for Social Change (Non-Formal Education Division of the Ministry of Education) Ghana. She worked at Shiloh Community School in Tema from 2005 to 2007. She also holds a Certificate in HIV/AIDS Counselling and Care Giving from the University of Ghana in
2006.
Her desire for higher education was fulfilled in October 2009 when she gained admission into the Central University College to pursue a four-year degree programme in Family Counselling, which she completed in 2012.
She holds a Master’s degree in Guidance and Counselling from the Methodist University College in 2016. She did her Internship for both degrees at Tema Polyclinic. She obtained an Advance Certificate in Alternative Dispute and Conflict Resolution from the Centre for Peace and Reconciliation in 2018.
Mrs. Ahiabor was awarded a Certificate in Overview of Child Psychiatry, Abuse-Let’s Talk, and Ethical Issues in Mental Health Practices from The College of Physicians and Surgeons, Faculty of Psychiatry in 2019. She had training towards the Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values: The Bill, Therapist and
Therapy, and also holds a certificate in COVID-19 Pandemic and The Role of
Counsellors, both from Ghana National Association of Certificated Counsellors, in 2019
and 2021 respectively.
Mrs. Ahiabor believes and treasures self-development as the core for effective
performance on the profession. As a result, she undertook diverse professional
enhancement trainings with reputable institutions. Some of the courses she studied are,
Family-Life Education, National Coalition for Proper Human Sexual Rights and Family
Values, The Mental and Physical Effects of Torture, Understanding and Living with
Conflict, Family Law for Effective Counselling, Psychological Mental Health in
Emergencies, and Ban on Corporal Punishment in Ghanaian Schools: Implications for
Counselling. Others are, Building Strong Marriages and Healthy Relationship.
Presbyter Mrs. Joyce Ahiabor is a Counselling Psychologist and a member of the
Prepare/Enrich Facilitator’s Association (PEFA), Ghana National Association of
Certificated Counsellors (GNACC), Ghana Psychological Association (GPA) and Ghana
Psychological Council (GPC).
Presbyter Mrs. Ahiabor was consecrated as a Presbyter at the Trinity Parish, Kotobabi,
in 2010. She served as a session member for many years. Having received a lot of
training, she became the first Catechist of Hope Chapel-Sakumono Estates. She is a
lecturer at Global Theological Seminary (GTS) from 2007 to date. She was elected to
serve as Tema Presbytery Women’s Ministry Advisor, Financial Secretary on the Central
Committee Executive of the Women’s Ministry, a member of the Christian Counselling
Committee from 2015 to 2021, and a member of the Constitution Review Committee of
the Women’s Ministry. It is worth noting that she also served diligently as a member of
the Counselling and Marriage Committee of the Church, a member of the Floral and
Decoration Committee, Women’s Ministry Coordinator and was Children’s Service
(Sunday School) Coordinator in her local church.
Presbyter Mrs. Ahiabor also serves as a resource person for the Men’s Ministry, Women’s
Ministry, Youth Ministry, the Children’s Ministry, and other sister churches on invitation.
She has been an active member of the Global Evangelical Church, Power Chapel, Tema
Community Four (4) Parish, where she is a lay preacher.
Presbyter Mrs. Joyce Dieu Donné Ahiabor was married for 42 years to the late Bernard
Cadeau Ahiabor, a Netting Technologist by profession and a Businessman. His
contribution to the wife’s ministry was exceptional. Their union produced three adorable
children: Charmaine, Cheryl, and Clarence.
Mrs. Joyce Dieu Donné Ahiabor (Nee Sedziafa) has been elected as the Female
Presbyter onto the Synod Committee Executive of the Global Evangelical Church to serve a six-year term.
