Kwesi Dickson
Encyclopedia
Kwesi Abotsia Dickson was a priest
, theologian, author
and academic. He was the 7th President of the Methodist Church Ghana
and a professor at the University of Ghana
, Legon
.
in the Central Region
of Ghana. He was educated at the Mfantsipim School
at Cape Coast
. He completed his basic ministerial training at the Trinity Theological Seminary (then Trinity College in Kumasi
) in 1951. He then attended the University of Ghana
, then the University College of the Gold Coast. Next he went to the United Kingdom
where his postgraduate education was at Mansfield College, Oxford
at Oxford University.
of 1957. He served in various capacities at the University of Ghana over three decades until 1989. He has been the Head of the Department for the Study of Religions, Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Master of Commonwealth Hall, the first Dean of Students and the Director of the Institute of African Studies. when he was succeeded by Kwame Arhin
.
At various times, he served as adjunct professor of Old Testament and Hebrew at the Trinity Theological Seminary, Legon. He was also a fellow of the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences
. He was its president on two occasions. He also worked at the University of Swaziland
as a visiting professor.
In 1989, he was elected as President of the Methodist Church Ghana. He served two consecutive 4 year terms ending in 1997. He has served as Chairman of the Christian Council of Ghana
and as All Africa Conference of Churches President of the All African Council of Churches
.
, Accra
after a short illness. His funeral and burial were attended by many notable Ghanaian citizens including John Agyekum Kufuor who was President of Ghana
at the time and John Atta Mills who was a colleague at the University of Ghana and was to become the next Ghanaian president.
. Some of his texts were also used for GCE Ordinary Level and GCE Advanced Level
curricula. Some of his works include the following:
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
, theologian, author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
and academic. He was the 7th President of the Methodist Church Ghana
Methodist Church Ghana
The Methodist Church Ghana is one of the largest and oldest Protestant denominations in Ghana. It traces its roots back to the landing of Rev. Joseph Dunwell on 1 January 1835 in Cape Coast, Ghana. Rev...
and a professor at the University of Ghana
University of Ghana
The University of Ghana is the oldest and largest of the thirteen Ghanaian universities and tertiary institutions. It is one of the best universities in Africa and by far the most prestigious in West Africa...
, Legon
Legon
Legon, a suburb of the Ghanaian capital city Accra, is situated about twelve kilometres north-east of the city center. Legon is home to the main campus of the University of Ghana. The word "Legon" is derived from the indigenous Ga language of the people of Greater Accra; NI-LEY GON therefore "Hill...
.
Early life and education
Kwesi Dickson was born at SaltpondSaltpond
Saltpond is the capital of the Mfantseman Municipal District in the Central Region of Ghana.-Economy:Saltpond is noted for offshore oil resources...
in the Central Region
Central Region (Ghana)
The Central Region is one of Ghana's ten administrative regions. It is bordered by the Ashanti and Eastern regions to the north, Western region to the west, Greater Accra region to the east, and to the south by the Atlantic Ocean.-Districts:...
of Ghana. He was educated at the Mfantsipim School
Mfantsipim School
Mfantsipim SchoolMotto:Dwen Hwe Kan .Established: 3rd April 1876.Public School . Affiliated with Wesleyanism/Methodist Church.Head of school: Kwame Mieza Edjah.Staff:85....
at Cape Coast
Cape Coast
Cape Coast, or Cabo Corso, is the capital of the Central Region of Ghana and is also the capital city of the Fante people, or Mfantsefo. It is situated 165 km west of Accra on the Gulf of Guinea. It has a population of 82,291 . From the 16th century the city has changed hands between the...
. He completed his basic ministerial training at the Trinity Theological Seminary (then Trinity College in Kumasi
Kumasi
Kumasi is a city in southern central Ghana's Ashanti region. It is located near Lake Bosomtwe, in the Rain Forest Region about northwest of Accra. Kumasi is approximately north of the Equator and north of the Gulf of Guinea...
) in 1951. He then attended the University of Ghana
University of Ghana
The University of Ghana is the oldest and largest of the thirteen Ghanaian universities and tertiary institutions. It is one of the best universities in Africa and by far the most prestigious in West Africa...
, then the University College of the Gold Coast. Next he went to the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
where his postgraduate education was at Mansfield College, Oxford
Mansfield College, Oxford
Mansfield College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. Of the colleges that accept both undergraduate and graduate students Mansfield College is one of the smallest, comprising approximately 210 undergraduates, 130 graduates, 35 visiting students and 50...
at Oxford University.
Career
Dickson was ordained into the ministry of the Methodist Church of Ghana at the British Methodist ConferenceMethodist Church of Great Britain
The Methodist Church of Great Britain is the largest Wesleyan Methodist body in the United Kingdom, with congregations across Great Britain . It is the United Kingdom's fourth largest Christian denomination, with around 300,000 members and 6,000 churches...
of 1957. He served in various capacities at the University of Ghana over three decades until 1989. He has been the Head of the Department for the Study of Religions, Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Master of Commonwealth Hall, the first Dean of Students and the Director of the Institute of African Studies. when he was succeeded by Kwame Arhin
Kwame Arhin
Prof. Kwame Arhin, also known as Nana Arhin Brempong, is a historian and politician in Ghana.Arhin built his academic career at the University of Ghana, where he was an editor of the Legon Observer and had a long-standing association with the Institute of African Studies...
.
At various times, he served as adjunct professor of Old Testament and Hebrew at the Trinity Theological Seminary, Legon. He was also a fellow of the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences
Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences
The Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences is an arts and science institution of Ghana, based in the capital Accra. It was founded in 1959 by Kwame Nkrumah with the aim to promote the pursuit, advancement and dissemination of knowledge in all branches of the sciences and the humanities.It formally...
. He was its president on two occasions. He also worked at the University of Swaziland
University of Swaziland
The University of Swaziland developed from the University of Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland , formerly known as the University of Basutoland, Bechuanaland and Swaziland , which had its headquarters in Lesotho between 1964 and 1975. It eventually became the University of Botswana and Swaziland in...
as a visiting professor.
In 1989, he was elected as President of the Methodist Church Ghana. He served two consecutive 4 year terms ending in 1997. He has served as Chairman of the Christian Council of Ghana
Christian Council of Ghana
The Christian Council of Ghana is an umbrella group that unites 15 churches in Ghana. The council has its members from Charismatic, Pentecostal, Orthodox and other churches.-History of the council:The CCG was formed on 30 October 1929...
and as All Africa Conference of Churches President of the All African Council of Churches
All Africa Conference of Churches
All Africa Conference of Churches is an ecumenical fellowship that represents more than 120 million African Christians in 169 national churches and regional Christian councils....
.
Death
Dickson died at the Korle Bu Teaching HospitalKorle Bu Teaching Hospital
The Korle Bu Teaching Hospital is the premier health care facility in Ghana. It is the only tertiary hospital in the southern part of Ghana and it is also a teaching hospital affiliated with the medical school of the University of Ghana...
, Accra
Accra
Accra is the capital and largest city of Ghana, with an urban population of 1,658,937 according to the 2000 census. Accra is also the capital of the Greater Accra Region and of the Accra Metropolitan District, with which it is coterminous...
after a short illness. His funeral and burial were attended by many notable Ghanaian citizens including John Agyekum Kufuor who was President of Ghana
President of Ghana
The President of Ghana is the elected head of state and head of government of Ghana. Officially styled President of the Republic of Ghana and Commander-in-Chief of the Ghanaian Armed Forces. The current President of Ghana is Prof. John Atta Mills, who took office in January...
at the time and John Atta Mills who was a colleague at the University of Ghana and was to become the next Ghanaian president.
Publications
Kwesi Dickson has many publications to his name. He has authoritative works such as Theology in Africa and others on Religious exclusivismReligious exclusivism
Religious exclusivism is the doctrine that only one particular religion is true. In its normative form it is simply the belief in one's own religion and non-belief in religions other than one's own...
. Some of his texts were also used for GCE Ordinary Level and GCE Advanced Level
GCE Advanced Level
The Advanced Level General Certificate of Education, commonly referred to as an A-level, is a qualification offered by education institutions in England, Northern Ireland, Wales, Cameroon, and the Cayman Islands...
curricula. Some of his works include the following: