By Damian Avevor
Most Rev. Peter Kwasi Sarpong, the first Archbishop Emeritus of Kumasi, has encouraged the faithful of Kumasi and Ghanaians in general to emulate the good legacies left behind by the late Most Rev. Thomas Kwaku (TK) Mensah, Archbishop Emeritus II of Kumasi.
He said when the late Archbishop became the Bishop of Obuasi, he took as his Motto Pax Christi (the Peace of Christ), which “ he pleads with all of us to be guided in our relationship with others, by the peace that Christ left for His Disciples, not the caricature of peace between the cat and the mouse.”
In a homily during the burial Mass for Archbishop Mensah at the Jubilee Park at Kumasi on Tuesday, May 31, Archbishop Sarpong said he was “leaving us the legacy of seeing the Holy priesthood as the High Priest sees it- a call to love one’s neighbour by suffering and praying.”
He said the late Archbishop was a man of prayer and that was why he was faithful in everything to the Church and its leaders, noting that his whole life’s story was an orientation towards the moment of decision to do the will of God.
The Mass was attended by about 2,000 mourners from far and near, who filled the Jubilee Park to capacity with many standing to catch a glimpse of the solemn celebration.
Archbishop Sarpong described Archbishop Mensah as a friend and brother whom I called “City” saying that he never discriminated among people, young or old, Catholics and non-Catholics, Asante or non-Asante.
He said late Archbishop’s heritage included love that was not contingent upon any expectations, noting that he “reminds us that this is in accordance with the prayer that the Lord ordered us to say daily.”
He said Archbishop Mensah accepted death with amazing equanimity and “encourages us to welcome that day which allots to each man his final home,” describing him as an exemplary Seminarian and Priest.
The Archbishop Emeritus said TK was “a very helpful Secretary, who would do exactly what I told him to do but would politely disagree with me when he was certain I was wrong.”
He extolled the humility of the late Archbishop, saying that “The humility with which he spiritually directed the Minor Seminarians as a Rector of St. Peter’s Seminary at Pedu was admirable.
He praised him for mooting the idea of locating the Spiritual Year and Philosophy Course in Accra and while at Pedu as the Rector, he managed to be supervising the building of St. Paul’s Seminary.
At the National Catholic Secretariat as the Secretary General, he brought breadth of efficacy and as a Bishop of Obuasi, he approached his duties with imagination, innovation, patience and dedication.
He said as a Diocesan Priest of Kumasi, he partook in all activities of the Diocese with amazing dedication and as a member of the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference, he devotedly served the Ghanaian Church as Secretary General, Chairman of the Department of Laity Council, Chairman, Department of Health, Member of the Building and Finance Committees and also a member of the Investment Board.
