Rev. Dr Godwin Nii Noi Odonkor, Clerk of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana has called on Christians to heed to the call of God as we are called for a particular purpose and duty.
He said calling is the basic theological believe since Christians are called for a service in the Lord’s vineyard.
Giving his homily at the installation of the Very Rev’d. Dr. George Kotei Neequaye as the eighth Dean of the Cathedral Church of the Most Holy Trinity in Accra, Rev. Odonkor said God is the foundation of life and our actions.
The Clerk of the General Assembly who spoke on the theme “Call to the Service of God” said God controls our lives, movements and orders our steps. He said Dean Neequaye has been called to spiritually lead and administer the people of God and to assist the Bishop in managing the life of the Church.
He, therefore, called on him to humble himself and listen to the voice of God as He will prepare him spiritually and physically to lead the people of God.
“Do your best, add value to the life of service in the Cathedral, keep the Cathedral as an icon of Anglican parishes in Accra” Rev. Odonkor stated, adding “ “Let this Cathedral be the next center of Anglicanism in the Diocese”.
He said the Cathedral is the symbolic soul of all the parishes in Accra and therefore called on the Dean to keep it as such and to take it to a higher notch.
Rev. Odonkor reminded Dean Neequaye to remember to go back to God to ask for direction if he begins to face challenges, saying “you will not walk alone as the one who called you will continue to be with you”.
The installation of the new Dean of the Cathedral was attended by a large number of Anglicans from various parishes including the former Archbishop of the Church of the Province of West Africa and the Bishop of Koforidua, the Most Rev’d Dr Robert Garshong Allotey Okine, Rt Rev’d Alexander Kobina Asmah, the Clergies from other denominations, lectures from the Trinity Theological College, chiefs and other opinion leaders.
Deed of Appointment
The deed of appointment was read by the Chancellor of the Diocese, Her Lordship Justice Sophia Bernasko-Essah after which Dean Neequaye made the solemn declaration to faithfully observe and keep the canons and other bye-laws that concerns him.
This was followed by the presentation of the Holy Bible to the Dean by the Bishop of Accra, the Rt. Rev’d Daniel S. M. Torto with the proclamation for Dean Neequaye to be a pastor, healer and reconciler.
Dean Neequaye was then clothed with a cope signifying the ministry which he is in after which he was installed by the Bishop as the Eighth Dean of the Cathedral Church of the Most Holy Trinity.
Past Provosts and Deans
The Very Rev’d. George E. Ferguson Laing served as the first Provost of the Cathedral from 1954 to 1962 and was followed by Rt. Rev’d. Aruna Kojo Nelson from 1966 to 1977. From 1977 to 1980 Very Rev’d. Robert E. A. Ashietey served as the third Provost of the Cathedral.
The Very Rev’d. Justice Ofei Akrofi took the mantle as the forth Provost/Dean from 1982 to 1996 thus becoming the longest serving priest on the seat. The Very Rev’d Jehoshaphat A. Ocquaye took the seat in 1996 and faithfully served for 10 years after retiring in 2006.
From 2006 to 2014 Very Rev’d. Dr. Emmanuel I. K. Addo became the sixth Dean after serving for six years for the seat to be occupied by the Very Rev’d. Seth Jonathan Annan Sackey from 2015 to 2019 as the seventh Dean of the Cathedral.
Educational Background
The Very Rev’d George Neequaye now the eighth Dean of the Cathedral was born in March 1959 and had his secondary education at Ebenezer Secondary School, Mamprobi.
He was ordained into the Diaconate in September 1986 and was priested a year after acquiring his theological qualification from the Trinity College now Trinity Theological Seminary, Legon.
As someone who has a penchant for further education, Dean Neequaye proceeded to the University of Nottingham, UK for further studies and acquired his Bachelor in Theology degree.
Back home in Ghana Dean Neequaye continued with his educational programmes and this earned him a Master of Philosophy degree from the University of Ghana, Legon. He later proceeded to the University of Pretoria in South Africa where he acquired his Doctor of Philosophy degree.
Dean Neequaye is currently an external examiner at the Universities of Cape Coast and University of Pretoria and a visiting scholar at the Candler School of Theology, Emory University, Atlanta, US.
He is also a board member of a number of tertiary institutions including the Trinity Theological Seminary and St Nicolas Theological Seminary, Cape Coast.
Dean Neequaye has a number of academic publications to his credit.
Work Experience and Appointments
Before being appointed as the Dean, Very Rev’d Neequaye was the Vice President of the Trinity Theological Seminary after having been a lecturer since 2007. He started his Priesthood career as an Assistant Priest at St Bartholomew, Teshie from 1986 to 1988.
He became the Priest in Charge at St Joseph, Prampram from 1988 to 1990. From 1993 to 1994 Dean Neequaye became an assistant Priest at St Andrews Abbosey Okai and the Parish Priest of St Stephen, Tema from 2002 to 2008.
Dean Neequaye has served as a Chaplain for a host of institutions and Chaplaincies including Christ Church, Legon, Tema Joint Church, Achimota School, Accra Ridge Church, Member of the Parliamentary Contact Group of the Christian Council and chairman of the Liturgical Committee of the Anglican Diocese of Accra, a member of the Provincial Synod among others.
