[World Council of Churches press release] In a letter of consolation to the family and friends of Canon Kodwo E. Ankrah of the (Anglican) Church of the Province of Uganda, World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary the Rev. Olav Fykse Tveit has expressed sympathy following the death on May 29 of “this great Pan-Africanist and ecumenist.”

Born in Anomabu, Ghana on Jan. 30, 1928, Ankrah served in a variety of key positions for the Christian Council of Ghana, the Christian Service Committee, the All Africa Conference of Churches, and as coordinator for planning, development and rehabilitation within the Church of the Province of Uganda. From 1970 to 1974, he was the WCC executive for English-speaking Africa.

Ankrah was the author of the 1998 book Development and the Church of Uganda: Mission, Myths and Metaphors (Nairobi: Action Publishers).

The WCC general secretary wrote in part: “We cannot but acknowledge his true commitment to ecumenism and humanity for traversing national boundaries, denominational identities and his deep engagement with the plight of refugees in Africa, especially in the Sudan. Canon Kodwo Ankrah was a highly motivated and effective church leader.”