Retirement service has been held for Rev. & Mrs. Boakye Danquah to bring to an end 9 years of pastoral ministry. The occasion was held on Sunday 7th February 2021 at Gospel Light Assemblies of God, Tanoso-Kumasi in the Ashanti west region. Until his retirement, Rev. Boakye Danquah was the senior Pastor of True Vine Chapel Assemblies of God at Apatrapa in the same region. The ceremony brought several dignitaries from far and near including the Regional Superintendent, Rev. Stephen Yaw Manu, other Regional executives, District executives, and ministers across the country. The colourful ceremony was officiated by the Regional Superintendent and supported by the Regional executives and the National Pensions Administrator.
Rev. Ben Adu Gyamfi Yeboah who is the Regional Secretary for the region preached on the theme “Partnership in Advancing the Kingdom” with scripture reference from 1 Corinthians 3:5-15. Rev. Adu Gyamfi compared the Church to a plant and stipulated three things for the congregation to consider. He noted that there is always a planter, being those who plant the church. Secondly, some water the plant and expanded this point that these people are those who ensure that the church grows through the pruning processes, which is the most difficult task to be done, and eulogized Rev. Boakye Danquah as one of them. Finally, Rev. Adu Gyamfi emphasized that the most paramount and critical aspect is the one who ensures its growth and that is God himself. He advised the congregation and pastors present to give glory to God who ensures that the plant grows, though the planter also deserves praise for their efforts. He said the one who waters did well but the ultimate is God who will reward both the planter and the one watering the plant.
Rev. Adu Gyamfi concluded that “Paul, Apollo and the rest did their best but the Ultimate was God who ensured the growth. Because if Christ does not see to the growth nothing can be done. No one can claim this credit. We give all the glory to God for the life of Rev & Mrs. Boakye Danquah for allowing God to use them to water his plants till today”.
Rev. Stephen Yaw Manu acknowledged the contribution of Rev. Boakye Danquah for his hard work as a pastor and in his deaconship over the past years. He also commended his commitment towards the things of God and also vigorous service under Rev. Rtd. Obeng Amoako. Other groups and ministers also took turns to read their goodwill including the District Pastor of Kwadaso, Rev. Joseph Asiedu Mintah, Rev. Osei Asibey, Rev. Frank Amoako Sarpong, MGBC Class of 2011, The local church, and well-wishers.
Mr. Felix Nana Boakye, the National Pensions Administrator, supported by Rev. Stephen Yaw Manu made the retirement declaration to officially retire Rev. Philip Boakye Danquah from active ministry. He also presented his End-of-Service benefit to the retiree. Various gifts were also presented to the Rev. Boakye Danquah and his Family as well as prayers offered for them.
Rev. Boakye Danquah thanked God Almighty for his life and also expressed his sincere gratitude to his wife, Mrs. Vida Boakye Danquah for her support. “Last but not least, the Apatrapa A/G Church Deacons and entire Church members for the support they gave him which has translated into what we see today. God bless you all”.
Profile of Rev. Philip Boakye Danquah
Rev. Philip Danquah was born on the 2nd of April, 1952 at Boamang in the Afigya Kwabre North District of the Ashanti Region. His parents were Opanin Kofi Ntim of Offinso Amoawi and Obaapanin Afia Antwiwaa of Boamang Maase. He was the fifth born of his parents and was raised at Offinso Amoawi.
He started his primary education at Offinso Amoawi at age six. He continued his middle school at Boamang in 1964 and completed in the year 1967. After his middle school education, he moved to Kumasi. He became an apprentice with a radio company called Opoku Radio Mechanic in Ash-Town for two years. He later moved from Ash-Town to Suame Magazine. At Suame Magazine, he began another apprenticeship as a car liner (upholstery). In 1972, he completed his apprenticeship and established his workshop at Suame Magazine.
Rev. Danquah worked for about five years at his workshop and then started merchandising across the borders of Ghana with general goods. He traveled to Mali, Burkina Faso, and La Cote D’Ivoire with these goods. He however stopped his business to begin a new carrier as an herbal medical Practitioner in Greater Accra. The herbal business took him to Duayaw Nkwanta in Brong Ahafo Region.
Rev. Philip Boakye Danquah Started attending the Offinso Amoawi Methodist Church when he was twelve years old. When he moved to Kumasi, he also became a member of the Bohyen Methodist Church and a chorister as well. He, however, got born again under the ministry of Rev. Yao Paul in La Cote D’Ivoire. He was very much into evangelism and preaching while he was moving from vehicle to vehicle selling his herbal products in those days in the then Brong Ahafo Region. He later joined the Duayaw Nkwanta Assemblies of God Church in 1986. He became a deacon of the church in 1987. And served as the deacon of the church for three years. He, later on, joined the Gospel Light A/G at Tanoso when he relocated to Abuakwa-Kumasi in 1989. His strong devotion and commitment caught the attention of the Pastor who also made him a deacon. He also became the treasurer at Gospel Light AG between 1990 to 2007. He was not only a deacon and a treasurer but was also heavily involved in prayer activities. The pastor permitted him to start prayer meetings on Wednesdays in the church.
In the year 2007, Rev. Obeng Amoako released him as Lay pastor to the True Vine Chapel A/G Apatrapa. So, he moved with his family to settle at Apatrapa to be in charge of the church for the first time. To God be the glory, he was able to purchase a plot of land and moved the worship from the classroom into a church building on the plot.
Though he was beyond the expected and required age qualification for admission to Bible college, he gave up the idea of attending bible college but through the advice of his friend and brother Rev. Frank Amoako Sarpong, he was encouraged to apply for admission and by the grace of God, he was successfully admitted into Mid Ghana Bible College in 2009 to study Theology. This is one of the pieces of evidence of God’s calling upon his life. He graduated in 2011 and has since been recognized as a full-time resident pastor of the Apatrapa A/G Church.
Rev. Boakye Danquah got married to Mrs. Emma Boakye, known as Sister Emma in 1985. They stayed together as lovely couples for about 22ycars before her demise. The wife fell sick and battled with the disease till she passed on to be with the Lord in 2007, may her soul rest in perfect peace. However, he met another woman called Miss Vida Yeboah whom he got to know through his brother Rev. Frank Amoako Sarpong, and later got married to her in 2008 at Gospel Centre A/G Old Tafo, she has been a wonderful support and blessing to him and the ministry.
Rev. Danquah is so much indebted to Rev. Obeng Amoako (RTD) who gave him all these opportunities to serve God in the church. His association in those days at Gospel Light included now. Rev. Ben Adu Gyamfi of Upper Room Revival A/G Kwadaso Estate and the Ashanti West Regional Secretary, Rev Frank Amoako Sarpong, former Kwadaso District Pastor and now the head pastor of Liberty AG Abuakwa, Rev. Kofi Asibey, Head pastor of Adankwame A/G, Rev. Prince George Agyemang also of Kunsu A/G, Bro. Dennis Duku and Pastor Kingsley Osei of Amazing Love A/G Tanoso.
