Vice-President Kwesi Bekoe Amissah-Arthur has paid glowing tribute to the late Archbishop Emeritus of the Accra Catholic Archdiocese, the Most Reverend Dominic Kodwo Andoh, describing him as one of the few Ghanaians who dedicated themselves to the church and the generality of the people.
He said the Most Rev Andoh’s positive attitude to work, sense of humility and fellow feeling had touched the lives of many people and endeared him to many others.
Mr Amissah-Arthur paid the tribute when a delegation from the Catholic Archdiocese of Accra and the family of the late archbishop called on him at the Flagstaff House in Accra yesterday to announce his death and funeral arrangements.
“The Most Rev Andoh led a good life. He led a positive life that touched on many people within and outside his religion,” he said.
Mr Amissah-Arthur thanked God for giving Archbishop Andoh as a gift to the Catholic Church and the nation as a whole, saying his works would continue to serve as a source of inspiration for those yet unborn.
Archbishop Andoh was the immediate past Catholic Metropolitan Archbishop of Accra. He died at the Cardiothoracic Centre of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital on May 17, 2013. He was 84 years.
For 34 years (1971-2005), he was the Bishop and Archbishop of Accra.
In his tribute, the Chief of Staff at the Presidency, Mr Douglas Bani, said Archbishop Andoh dedicated himself solely to the growth and development of the church.
“Though we have lost him, we should praise the good and positive things he had done to improve the lives of many people,” he said.
He said Archbishop Andoh had contributed significantly to all sectors of the economy, particularly in education, health and agriculture, and helped in the development of churches across the country.
In his remarks, the Head of the late archbishop’s family, Mr George E. Monney, described Archbishop Andoh as a good listener, humble person and one who showed respect to all people.
“My brother had a sharp and retentive memory. We will miss his peaceful stature,” he said.
Archbishop Andoh was elevated to the Episcopal See of Accra in 1971, becoming its first Ghanaian bishop.
He received the late Pope John Paul in the Holy Spirit Cathedral at the start of his papal visit to Ghana.
Pope John Paul later elevated the Accra Diocese to a Metropolitan Diocese and Archbishop Andoh was installed as the first archbishop.
He was the President of the Ghana Catholic Bishops Conference from 1973 to 1982, during which period he introduced reforms in the Catholic Church towards pastoral ministry and reconciliation.
On March 30, 2005, Archbishop Andoh retired at the age of 75 and was succeeded by Archbishop Charles Palmer-Buckle.
In 2006, the state acknowledged Archbishop Andoh’s creativity, excellence and hard work when former President J.A. Kufuor conferred on him the Order of the Star of Ghana.