Catholic Diocese of  Sekondi - Takoradi

                           SHORT HISTORY OF GHANA C.Y.O

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The C. Y. O. is an international Organization which exists in all part of the world in different names.

It was founded in Ghana by his lordship, Right Rev. Bishop Adolf Noser. SVD, DD. Of the Accra Diocese and Rev.  Peter Norek. SVD IN 1949, at the time when the majority of the youth was left to themselves without guidance.  It appointed Mr. Victor Ako-Adonuvo as its first full time Director in 1951. Later he became the National   Chairman in 1960.

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In 1951, His Excellency Sir Charles Noble Arden Clarke, K.C.M.G.  The then Governor of the Gold Coast now Ghana, laid the cornerstone of the C.Y.O.  Sports Stadium at Adoagyiri-Nsawam.

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Branches of the Movement spread throughout the country on diocesan basis independent of each other.  It was in 1959 that a National Federation of all Catholic Youth Movements in all the various dioceses was formed at the express wish of the Hierarchy.

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The C.Y.O. was very strong spread in the Archdiocese of Cape Coast through the dynamism of Rev. Fr. Vincent Kwabena Damuah, Archbishop John Kodwo Amissah and the members. 

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Working closely with the then National Chairman, Rev. Damuah directed the activities of the C.Y.O. in Saltpond so creditably that in January 1963 He was detained for 5day for criticzing some aspects of the defunct Young Pioneer Movement Programme especially the deification and institutionalization doctrines.

The C.Y.O. is a beneficiary of the National Trust Fund and its effective contribution towards Ghana independence from colonial domination was specially noted.

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The C.Y.O. is devoted to facilitate and conduct training courses in the field of Yough Service, to co-operate with the Church, the Government and the other agencies concerned with Youth Service to foster and co-ordinate activities of Church societies dealing with Youth.

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                                                  WHAT IS THE C.Y.O.?

The C.Y.O. is an Organization, which taking the Parish as its base, and without regard to social class or profession, provides for young people a Christian community life, in order to prepare them for active co-operation in building a living Church and a better world.

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Further, it is the objective of the Organization to inspire, direct and guide the natural creative qualities and desire of young people by promoting recreational, educational, cultural and religious programme that will adequately meet their physical, mental and spiritual needs.

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