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Fr. Ignatius Kobla Ayivor, SVD 

    Rev. Ignatius Kobla Ayivor, SVD, a cool and resolute person who is found of saying “wonderful” was born at Keta (Volta Region) on the 8th October, 1963 to Mr. Paul Ocloo Ayivor and Madam Mary Abla Bohli, a fourth born in a family of eight children.

    Ignatius did most of his basic education in schools within Keta and Akatsi. The last was Keta R.C. Middle Boys’ where he sat for the Common Entrance Examination in 1980.

    Having passed the Common Entrance Examination he entered St. Mary Minor Seminary / Secondary School, Lolobi, after which he proceeded to St. Augustine’s College, Cape Coast from 1985 to 1987.

    After completing National Service in Accra, it was time for Ignatius to explore beyond the familiar shores. He secured a job in a friend’s firm as a supplier of white cotton twine to several banks in Accra. He later left the job for yet another challenging job as Assistant Marketing Manager with Kedananda Busicon Credito Ltd. He served in this capacity until 1990 when he returned to the classroom as a tutor at Harvard College, Kokomemle, Accra.

    Due to his undying nagging desire to become a religious priest, Ignatius applied for admission to the Society of the Divine Word (SVD) to train as a religious priest. In 1991, the Divine Word Missionaries sent him to St. Victor’s Major Seminary in Tamale, where he commenced his long journey to the priesthood.

    He did philosophy in two years, and he proceeded to the Novitiate at St. Peter’s Nkwatia-Kwahu in 1993. On completion of his novitiate year he professed his first religious vows in 1994 and returned to Tamale for theological studies.

    In 1998, he was sent to St. Margaret Mary Parish Dansoman, Accra, where he did his Pastoral Year. On the 8th of September, the same year, Ignatius professed perpetual  religious vows. He was appointed to Argentina for his mission.

    After the Pastoral Year and perpetual vows he returned to St. Victor’s Major Seminary again, this time to complete his theological studies. He obtained BA (Hons) degree from University of Ghana, Legon.

    On the 8th of January, 1999, Archbishop (emeritus) Peter Dery ordained him a deacon at the Common Formation Centre (Tamale).

    Knowing the wisdom of the saying that goes “All work without play makes Jack a dull boy”, Ignatius usually spends his leisure time reading novels, writing letters or poetry and composing music. His debut music album "Jesus Forever" was released in 1998. His motto ‘Be Yourself’ sums, in philosophical way, the values that saw him through his formation.

    Father Ayivor  spent two years  in Argentina, where he worked as a religious missionary. He returned to Ghana and was appointed as Assistant Parish Priest  to St. Margaret Mary Parish, Dansoman  from 2001 to 2006.  He was transferred to St. Augustine Parish, Ashaiman in 2006, where he spent only six months before going for further studies in Canon Law in the Philippines .