Rev. Fr. Johannes Minta-Mensah, Parish Priest of St. Theresa’s Catholic Church in Kaneshie-Accra , has urged the police to pay equal attention to policing communities instead of the current practice of focusing so much on the roads.
He pointed out that the focus on road patrols and checking of drivers on the roads seems to be a misplaced as more crimes are committed in the communities than on the roads.
Rev. Fr. Minta-Mensah said this at the Burial Mass of Bro. Francis Thomas Papa Anderson, who was a member of Council No. 48 (Accra West) and a parishioner of St. Theresa’s Catholic Church .
Francis was a worker with E-volution (a multi-media company) until he met his untimely death when armed robbers stormed his house in Kwashieman-Accra on Wednesday, April 15, 2015 around 2:00 a.m. He was 29 years.
The Burial Mass which took place at the St. Theresa’s Catholic Church in Kaneshie-Accra on Saturday, May 23, 2015 was attended by hundreds of people from all walks of life, notable among them Knights and Ladies of Marshall, past students of Presbyterian Boys Secondary School in Legon-Accra, past students of KNUST and persons from within the media confraternity.
Officiating Ministers
The Burial Mass was concelebrated by 20 priests with Very Rev. Fr. Francis Amonoo of St. Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Kasoa as the main celebrant. The concelebrants were Rev. Fr. Johannes Minta-Mensah (Parish Priest of St. Theresa’s Catholic Church in Kaneshie-Accra), Rev Fr. Francis Ackon (Parish Priest of the Star of the Sea Catholic Church in Dansoman-Accra), Rev. Fr. Clement Wilson (Parish Priest of St. Anne’s Catholic Church in Teshie-Accra), W/Bro. Rev. Fr. Dominic Amegashitsi (Parish Priest of St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Osu-Accra), Rev. Fr. Fred Agyeman (Parish Priest of St. Sylvanus Catholic Church in Pokuase), Very Rev. Fr. Francis Arthur (Rector of St. Paul’s Catholic Seminary at Sowutuom-Accra), Very Rev. Fr. Francis Le Maire (Vice Rector of St. Paul’s Catholic Seminary in Sowutuom-Accra), Rev. Fr. Rex Vogbey (SVD), Rev. Fr. Michael Oteng-Bawuah, Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Duku (Assistant Administrator of the Holy Spirit Cathedral in Adabraka-Accra), Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Acheampong (Assistant Priest at Holy Family Catholic Church in Mateheko-Accra), Rev. Fr. Precious Nutsugah (Parochial Vicar at Martyrs of Uganda Catholic Church in Mamprobi-Accra), Rev. Fr. Michael Ofori (Assistant Priest at St. Kizito Catholic Church in Nima-Accra), Rev. Fr. Eric Asante (Diocese of Worcester in Massachusetts, USA), Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Obeng Codjoe (St. Dominic Catholic Church in Taifa-Accra) and Rev. Fr. Kpanie Addy, SJ, (St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Nungua-Accra) and Sir Kt. Bro. Very Rev. Fr. Joseph Ebow Baidoo (attached to the Sekondi-Takoardi Diocese and Assistant Supreme Chaplain of the Knights of Marshall).
Homily
In his homily, Rev. Fr. Minta-Mensah pointed out that life indeed was a mystery as Bro. Anderson who showed great prospect in the Church could pass away just at age 29.
Francis lived as by the letters in his name depicted, Rev. Minta-Mensah said. Fraincis, according to Rev. Minta-Mensah was friendly (F), reliable and dependable(R), adorable son of St. Theresa (A), no-nonsense person (N), caring and compassionate parishioner (C), impartial judge (I) and smiling personality (S).
Rev. Fr. Minta-Mensah pointed out that though Anderson may have died the thousands of people who had come to bid him farewell is evident that goodness had triumph over evil.
Rev. Fr. Minta-Mensah said the death of Francis should be a call to the Ghana Police and indeed the security agencies that they need to do more to protect the citizenry. He questioned why so many police men and women are on the road checking drivers whilst their services are needed in the communities where crime is rife. “We give the impression that crime is rife on the roads by the many uniformed policemen and women who are on the roads whilst in reality crime is prevalent in the communities”, he emphasied.
Rev. Fr. Minta-Mensah decried the attitude of young men and women wanting to get rich overnight. He challenged society to look at the pervading philosophy of adoring people with wealth, irrespective of how ill-gotten it was. He stressed until the philosophy which gives prominence to wealth is eliminated justice, freedom and peace which are the cherished values of our country would not be attained.
Rev. Minta-Mensah challenged all Ghanaians to help expose criminals as they live within their midst. He asked parents to be bold to question the source of wealth of their children and relatives and stressed anybody who lives on ill-gotten wealth would go the way of Judas.
Tributes
Tears flowed freely at the burial service as the tributes were read.
The hundreds of mourners, who attended the burial service at the St Theresa’s Catholic Church in Kaneshie, could not hold back their tears when the eight-month-pregnant widow of Francis, Mrs Eugenia Anderson, and Francis’ sister, Ms Clara Anderson, took turns to read their tributes.
“It is so sad that he did not get the chance to meet his child. Only God knows how Papa wanted this baby so badly,” Mrs Anderson said as tears run down her cheeks.
An emotionally crippled Ms Anderson summed up the relationship between her departed brother and her by saying, “My life has always been centred around you since we were just two. You take me to work, you bring me home, you send me to church and you make sure I am home early. You always made me believe that you will always be there for us. Now where are you, Papa?”
Members of the Knights and Ladies of Marshall, a society in the Catholic Church, to which the entire Anderson family belonged, were highly represented.
Bro. Edward Taylor, the Grand Knight of Council No. 48 (Accra West), in his tribute, said Bro. Francis Thomas Anderson joined the junior order of the Knights and Ladies of Marshall, 23J ‘Mother Most Pure’ of Council No 48/Court No 40 on October 19, 1996. On October 11, 2008 he transferred to the adult council when he together with 10 others were initiated into the Noble Order of the Knights of Marshall at Council No 48 (Accra West). He and his colleagues were christened, ‘The Faithful Eleven’.
Bro. Francis Thomas Papa Bosomafi Kwame Anderson was very active in council activities and contributed to the growth of council. As a graphic designer he was very instrumental in the printing of council’s brochures over the years. He was out-spoken and freely made his views known on any issue that came up council meetings or any event of the Noble Order.
The Noble Order prays that Almighty God would forgive him his sins, receive his soul and give him eternal rest in heaven. Yes Heaven is the Prize.
Write-Up and pictures by Bro. Kojo T. Vieta, PGA/RADV