The Archbishop Emeritus of Ghana’s Kumasi Archdiocese, the Most Rev. Peter Kwasi Sarpong has celebrated his 90th birthday with a thanksgiving Mass at St. Peter’s Cathedral – Basilica on Sunday, February 26, 2023.
At the celebration, he was eulogised as a pacesetter, lover of Social Anthropology, African Theology, a Promoter of Justice and Peace issues, a citizen of the world, a missionary who has travelled to Rome, England, hence he has titled one of his books, “From Hut to Oxford.”
The Metropolitan Archbishop of Catholic Archdiocese of Kumasi, the Most Rev. Gabriel Justice Yaw Anokye, who praised the nonagenarian described him as a Leader who is hardworking such that those around him get tired before him, a sign that he is still strong at the age of ninety.
“Till date, he teaches Arts at the Christian Village. Therefore, as we gather to thank God with him, it is for a just cause to him who is dedicated, prayerful, inspiring, approachable and generous towards Catholics and non-Catholics,” Archbishop Anokye said.
As an Archbishop, he said, he has executed numerous projects in support of human progress, evangelization, health, and education. He is an expert consultant on all subjects from Archaeology to Zoology.
He thanked and praised God for such a wonderful personality who in December 1984, the Lord gave the vision to found a Female Religious Congregation named, Daughters of the Most Blessed Trinity (FST) who have built an ultra-modern hospital in his honour.
The Eucharistic Celebration was officiated by Archbishop Sarpong himself and concelebrated by many Prelates and Priests including the Metropolitan Archbishop of Catholic Archdiocese of Kumasi, Most Rev. Gabriel Justice Yaw Anokye; Archbishop Emeritus of Cape Coast, Most Rev Matthias Kobena Nketsiah.
Other concelebrants were the Bishop of Sunyani and President of the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference, the Most Rev. Matthew Kwasi Gyamfi; Bishop of Goaso Diocese, the Most Rev. Peter Kwaku Atuahene; Bishop of Konongo- Mampong, the Most Rev. Joseph Osei-Bonsu; Bishop Emeritus of Wiawso, the Most Rev. Joseph Francis Kweku Essien; and Bishop of Obuasi, the Most Rev John Yaw Afoakwah.
In a homily, Archbishop Anokye, thanked God for the gift of life of Archbishop Sarpong and prayed God to bless his meritable years and grant the celebrant more fruitful years to come.
Quoting the Psalmist in 90:10, he said, “seventy years is our life span and eighty for the strong,” but by God’s grace, Archbishop Sarpong is ninety and stronger than those who are strong; therefore, with the Psalmist in 18:49, “I will give thanks to You, O Lord and sing praises to Your name forever.” Speaking further he said that the Archbishop who is Akwasi is celebrating 90 years on his actual day of birth, a sign of God’s infinite goodness and hence, the special reading chosen for his birthday invites us to express deep gratitude to God for His countless blessings and faithfulness upon His servant.”
Archbishop Anokye noted that God chose him specially and has guided him to bring justice and light to His people and in union with the Church thanked the Father for giving him the Church and humanity.
Archbishop Sarpong was born on February 26, 1933 at Offinso-Maase in the Ashanti Region. He went to primary School by God’s miracle. After his education at St. Peter’s Major Seminary at Cape Coast, he was ordained a Priest sixty-four years ago, made the fourth Bishop of Kumasi Diocese fifty-three years ago and made the first Metropolitan Archbishop of Kumasi twenty-one years ago at the elevation of the Diocese to the status of an Archdiocese.
It was during his tenure as an Archbishop that Kumasi was divided into six with the aim of making evangelization outreach more manageable – Goaso, Konongo- Mampong, Obuasi, Sunyani and Techiman Dioceses.
His long service in the Church is a sign that he had worked tirelessly such that the day’s celebration would not be enough to recount his indescribable life. He has and still is a prolific, tremendous and stupendous writer, a musician, and an inculturationist whose love for culture and tradition made him introduce the Ashanti culture into the Liturgy and had also thought some Churches outside Ghana how to worship God in an Africanized Christian Liturgy.
Archbishop Anokye informed the congregation that the celebrant had been described by the members of the Ghana Bishops’ Conference as a ‘Walking Encyclopedia.’
He said Archbishop Sarpong has written to Heads of States of Nations, contributed towards International Relations, Ecumenical Dialogues and towards a stable Political Government.
He thanked and blessed him for everything that the Lord has accomplished through him.
There were Goodwill messages from the Apostolic Nuncio to Ghana, the Ghana Catholic bishops’ Conference; Kumasi Archdiocese, family members of Archbishop Sarpong; the Emeritus Archbishop of Cape Coast; the Anglican Church; the Bishop of Gboko and Archbishop Anokye’s Sixteen Member Class Mates of 1975 of St. Hubert, Kumasi.
Story: Sr. Angela Amaechi, FSP. Photo Credit: CAK Media
