Diligent, principled, dedicated and visionary, Sir Kt. Bro. Edward Aloysius Prah, the 27th Supreme Knight of the Noble Order of The Knights of Marshall is a dynamic man who exudes confidence in all his endeavours. His grace, composure and drive serves as inspiration to all he encounters.
His underlining ethos is premised on belief in God, hard work and perfection as vividly espoused in Proverbs 3:5 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.”
After his primary and secondary education at St. Peter’s Boys School in Kumasi and St. Augustine’s College Cape Coast, he obtained his first degree, BSc in Agriculture Economics in 1974 and M.Sc (Wood Technology and Industrial Management in 1977) all at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi.
WORKING LIFE
Sir Kt. Bro. Edward Aloysius Prah’s working career started at the Ministry of Agriculture for a brief period, from June – September 1975. Realizing the opportunities that then existed in Ghana’s Timber Industry due to the lack of educated management personnel, he decided to find leverage in the Wood Industry. Thus from 1977 – 1990, he worked with the Takoradi Veneer and Lumber Company, first as Assistant Production Manager, rising through the ranks to become its Acting Managing Director for a brief period from January to June 1990.
Equipped with the wealth of knowledge acquired in the Wood Industry, Sir Kt. Bro. Prah delved into private consultancy from July 1990 until 2000. As a consultant, he was an invaluable asset to many Ghanaian Timber Companies and International Institutions including the Commonwealth Secretariat, International Institute for Environment and Development and the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA).
From 2000 – 2005, Sir Kt. Bro. Edward Aloysius Prah joined The OIM International B.V. a South African Business and Leadership Development Consulting Firm, as the West African Director.
Sir Kt. Bro. Edward Aloysius Prah, who is presently the Vice President of the International Council for Catholic Men (Unum Omnes) based in Rome, runs his own consultancy firm, GH Consulting Company Limited, specializing in Organization and Leadership Development.
His background and experience, lends itself to the notable positions he has held in public and private institutions. From 1999 – 2001, he served as member of Ghana’s Forestry Commission, Vice Chairman, Ghana Stock Exchange 2008 – 2012 and member and past President, Sekondi-Takoradi Rotary Club.
He also served in directorial roles in – GH Consulting Company Ltd., Takoradi; Samartex Timber and Plywood Company Ltd., Samreboi; Greater Heights School, Takoradi; Takoradi International School, Takoradi; Nana Quainoo Memorial School, Kumasi; OIM International BV, South Africa and Humanities International Foundation.
NOBLE ORDER OF THE KNIGHTS OF MARSHALL
Sir Kt. Bro. Edward Aloysius Prah is a product of deep-rooted Marshallan background. His maternal grandfather, late Sir Kt. Bro. Albert Quainoo, two maternal uncles, three aunties and an elder sister all got initiated into the Noble Order.
His 90 year old mother, MRL Sis. Frances Prah was a Founding Member and Third Noble Lady of Mother Thais Lodge which later became Court One of the Ladies of Marshall. She was appointed the First Grand Secretary and later served as the Fourth Grand Lady of the Ladies of Marshall from 1979 – 1981.
Sir Kt. Bro. Edward Aloysius Prah’s decision to join the Noble Order of the Knights of Marshall came as no surprise and was initiated to Council One, Sekondi, in September 1981. Two years later, in December 1983, he was elected Assistant Secretary and in 1985 Secretary to the Council. He served in that capacity for six consecutive years until 1991 when he was installed Deputy Grand Knight of Council and Grand Knight in 1993.
In September 1995, he was promoted to the Supreme Council as an Assistant Supreme Secretary, a position he held for four years before earning promotion to the substantive position of Supreme Secretary in 1999. In this capacity as Supreme Secretary, he served on a number of committees including the Ritual and Constitution Review Committees.
Sir Kt. Bro. Edward Aloysius Prah’s service to the Noble Order as Supreme Secretary covered a period of six years bringing his service to the Supreme Council Secretariat to a total of ten years.
He was elected Deputy Supreme Knight in September 2005, and installed the 27th Supreme Knight of the Noble Order two years later on September 15, 2007.
ACHIEVEMENTS AS SUPREME KNIGHT AND AFTER
Sir Kt. Bro. Edward Aloysius Prah made major strides in all his activities as Supreme Knight. During his two years tenure of office, the number of councils grew from 92 – 100 largely due to the effective propaganda work by then Worthy Brother and now PSK Sir Kt. Bro. Victor Derx Baffour. The period also witnessed the completion of outstanding works and furnishings of the Marshallan Centre and the creation of a Website for the Noble Order.
Under his leadership, the 7th Marshallan Re-Union Conference held in Accra attracted for the first time, intenational dignitaries such as Most Rev. Denis Amuzu Dzakpa – Archbishop of Lome, who delivered the key-note address and Sir Kt. Bro. Niall Kennedy (KSG) – Secretary General of the International Alliance of Catholic Knights (IACK). The now famous “From the Supreme Knight’s Desk” and the first-ever forum for Chaplains were all introduced during his term of office.
By far the most lasting legacy was the establishment of the Marshallan Endowment Fund, which has become the mainstay of funding for important Marshallan activities to the Church and larger society. This legacy cannot be mentioned without acknowledging the major contributors and trustees to the Fund, namely, Kantinka, Sir Kt. Bro. Dr. Kwame Donkor Fordwor, Sir Kt. Bro. Fosuaba Mensah Banahene, Sir Kt. Bro. Tony Oteng-Gyasi, Sir. Kt. Bro. Albert Essien, MRL Sis. Cecilia Donkor Fordwor, RL Sis. Felicity Acquah and Sir Kt. Bro. Edward Aloysius Prah .
(MARADES)
The reliability of Sir Kt. Bro. Prah is not in doubt. Thus, when the Supreme Council decided to register its Non-Governmental Organization in September 2011, the MARSHALLAN RELIEF AND DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, (MARADES) the mantle again fell on him as its chairman.
Under his direction, MARADES has made in-roads and increased the visibility of the Noble Order to the larger society including the Presidency of Ghana. Among other things, MARADES has provided physical, spiritual, economic, educational and social reliefs to persons and groups affected by poverty, conflict, disaster and political circumstances.
CHURCH ACTIVITIES
Sir Kt. Bro. Edward Aloysius Prah has made valuable contributions to the Church and served in various capacities, namely, National Organizer of Young Christian Students, (1974 – 1975); Member and President of the St. Paul’s Conference of the St. Vincent de Paul Society; Chairman of Board – St. Mary’s Seminary, Apowa, near Takoradi; Past Member of Diocesan Education and Lands Committees and served on many ad hoc committees established by late Bishops of the Sekondi-Takoradi Diocese.
FAMILY LIFE
Sir Kt. Bro. Prah is married to Mrs Teresa Prah, a retired headmistress of Archbishop Porter Girls’ Senior High School, and presently the Managing Director of Greater Heights School, Takoradi. They have four children, Frances, a lecturer at University of Ghana, Legon; Irene, a medical officer at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi; Louisa, an engineer at VODAFONE and Edwina Teresa, a manager at ORSAM Ltd, a French Oil Service provider in Takoradi.
His hobbies are reading and listening to good music.
Speaking to Marshallan.org, Sir Kt. Bro. Edward Aloysius Prah, praised the leadership of the Noble Order, past and present, for instituting progressive measures towards further growth and development of the Noble Order.
He spoke of the need for councils and courts to fully embrace the Strategic Marshallan Development Plan and work assiduously towards the realization of the goals of the Marshallan fraternity as it moves towards its centenary celebration in 2026.
WRITE-UP BY: SIR. KT. BRO. FRANCIS FRITZ ANDOH