Rev. Rayford Alex Kwakye has retired from active ministry after 31 years of serving Assemblies of God, Ghana. The memorable event took place on 31st March, 2019 at Revival Restoration Centre A/G, Roman Ridge, Accra. Until his retirement, Rev. Kwakye was the senior pastor of Calvary Redemption Centre A/G, Abelemkpe in the Accra West region.
The occasion was attended by Rev.Dr. Sam Ato Bentil, General Treasurer and also happened to be the preacher for the occasion. Other ministers in attendance were Rev.Dr. Ernest Birikorang, Regional Superintendent of Greater Accra West, Rev. Eugene Anim District Pastor of Newtown-Dzowulu and other ministers within the region. Ministers and well-wishers took turns to congratulate him on his successful retirement. Goodwill messages were also read during the occasion with notable ones from AG Ghana fraternity, Region, district and the local church. Various presentations were extended to Rev&Mrs. Kwakye from the Ministers’ Pension Scheme, Region, district, local church, departments in CRC A/G, children, friends, etc.
Rev. Kwakye expressed his profound gratitude to God for His love, care and mission provision. He also thanked his wife, children and the church for their support during these years of service.
BRIEF PROFILE OF REV. RAYFORD ALEX KWAKYE
Rev, Rayford Alex Kwakye was born to Mr. Roy Ofori Attah and Madam Amma Adiiza Obea of blessed memory on 15th March, 1951 at Akyem Swedru in the Eastern Region of Ghana.
Rev. Kwakye completed Middle School Education in 1968 and then pursued his G. C. E. Ordinary Level at the Accra Workers College at Adabraka in 1972. He developed his career in the field of Electricals and became an Electrical Technician. He worked with the following companies respectively; Captan Bayakly Company Ltd., All Afra Electric Company Ltd., Ghana Rubber Factory and Fenasu Fisheries Ltd. As marine personnel, he went into serious Marine Engineering Practice to enhance his operation and this earned him the position of an Electrical Engineer in charge of the Electrical Department of the Vessel MTR Subin in 1983.
On board the ship he managed to establish a moving church that was running anytime they were away from the shores of Ghana. He was, however, met with many discouragements from his fellow crew members as they made lots of fun about him to discourage him from his evangelical activities but he was unperturbed; he kept moving on. People in the company called him “Osofo” until his real name was virtually lost from the lips of crew members. No wonder, on one occasion when they were preparing the crew to embark on a trip outside the country, the chief officer mistakenly wrote “Osofo” until he contacted him for correction. Rev. Kwakye also had a group of Christians he met every afternoon at the Mankoadze Warehouse together with his friend Mr. Mensah, now an Apostle. Through this group he brought some of them to the Assemblies of God (A/G) church. Rev. Kwakye also preached in the workers bus every morning for about ten years from Accra to Tema and back. He also had a group in Tema Harbour that used to go to the Countryside for Evangelical Crusades – Kromain, Anyan Abaasa, etc.
He embarked on house to house evangelism in Abelemkpe and gathered a nucleus of people and started a prayer meeting which eventually metamorphosed into a church. Pastor Baisie gave him initial help by providing few benches to start with. When he started the church all the new Converts were taught at their homes. In 1986, he decided to enroll in the Bible College because the call of God was evident, but his pastor Rev. Dr. Harry Insaidoo asked him to work with him for one year before he goes to the school, of which he complied. After taking him into the church, he was attached to Rev. Baisie who was engaged in visitation, encouragement and prayers for members. So after the one year service he went to the Bible College where he graduated with a Diploma in Theology in 1988.
In 1992, just after a year of graduation he was seriously struck down by celebre spinal meningitis that was supposed to be the “stoke that breaks the camel’s back’ but the Lord saved him. After Bible School a new premise was acquired for the church on rental basis. In the agreement the landowners stipulated that we shouldn’t build with blocks on the land except a wooden structure. Therefore, a wooden structure was raised for the church. Negotiations with the landowners to purchase the land were not successful upon many attempts. Finally, we were able to secure part of the plot. Even after purchase of the land they swore not to release the land documents to us. This struggle for the documents lingered for years. This and others sparked a lot of troubles in the church and scattered our members because some members were using it to foment troubles. In 2006, we managed to secure the papers for the land through one insurance broker who mediated and influenced them on our behalf.
Currently, we have our own place of worship. We have built the ground floor: we are working on the top floors. The church enjoys a conducive atmosphere of peace unparalleled in the history of the church since its establishment because those who sort to terrorize and divide it are no more in the church. We have the following departments flourishing in the church. These are: Sunday School, Women’s Ministry, Youth Ministry, Men’s Ministry, Y’S ministry, Children’s Ministry, Music Ministry, Missions and Royal Rangers.
In his quest for higher education, Rev. Kwakye pursued his GCE Advance Level between 1996 and 1998 at the GNAT School. He further obtained admission to Central University College in 1998 where he did a two year post diploma course in B.A. in Theology and Missions. In 2010, Rev. Kwakye enrolled at the SGBC and pursued B.Th in Theology. He has spent most of his life as a servant of the Lord Jesus Christ and as a pastor with the Assemblies of God, Ghana for about thirty-one (31) years. He ministers as a pastor and teacher, and had a dynamic ministry. His ministry over the years has brought many to the saving knowledge of Christ; restored broken homes and marriages; many have been set free from the powers of the devil and also brought healing to many. His profound teaching ministry has trained many in righteousness and made many responsible in their homes and the society. He has also brought peace and stability through the power of the Holy Spirit to homes at Abofo, Abelemkpe and North Kaneshie.
He has also raised pastors and Christian leaders into the Lord’s vine yard. Among them are the following: Rev. Henry Dela Adehe of Hosanna Worship Centre A/G, Rev. Frank Kwakye of Calvary Redemption Centre A/G, Rev. Joseph Alodjiso of Believers Temple A/G, Pastor Daniel Arkaife of CRC, Pastor Filbert Nii Tackie also of CRC and Pastor Felix Asare a student of AGTS. The rest are Rev. Christopher Gaisie, Rev. Christopher Agyei-Twum, Rev. Mrs. Dora Kwakume, Rev. Zacchaeus, Rev. Bismarck Ofosu-Hene, Rev. Beatrice Oppong, Prophet Wisdom, Pastor Michael Manford, etc.
Rev. Kwakye once served as Secretary/Treasurer for the defunct Dzorwulu District. He has also been a Chairman of the Abelenkpe Subzone of the Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council for about ten years. To inculcate the culture of savings into the business life of the members Rev. Kwakye established the CRC Credit Union for the church which is striving greatly. Under the leadership of Rev. Kwakye, CRC has planted two churches at Amasaman District. These are The Believers Temple-Doblo Gonno and the later also at Dome Sampaman, The New Life A/G.
Rev. Kwakye was honored with a Doctorate Degree in Theology by Overcomers Bible College. Between 2012 and 2014, he did his Masters in Christian Education (MCC. Ed.) at the Messiah Theological College and Graduate School and currently pursuing PhD in Theology. He is member of the National Executive Committee of the Ghana United Nations Association (GUNA) and hold the position of National Secretary, Social Cohesion and Welfare. He is also a Peace Ambassador and a member of the Universal Peace Federation (UPF): an NGO with special consultative status. In 2012, he did an executive Master Certificate in Financial Management (a post graduate programme) for churches, non-governmental organizations and charities at the Global Centre for Transformational Leadership. Again in the same year he did a certificate course in Conflict Resolution at the Global Centre for Transformational Leadership.
Rev. Kwakye got married in 1981 to Mrs. Efua Kwakye who hails from Agona Swedru in the Central Region of Ghana. They are blessed with five (5) children: Rayford (Jnr.), Frank, Sandra, Davis, and Gloria.
