PRESBYTER ING. PROF ISRAEL KOFI DJOKOTO

DJOKOTOISPRREASBYETLER KOFIING. PROF 1941-2022

OFFICIATING MINISTERS: Rt. Rev. Prosper S. Dzomeku Rev. Ebenezer Senyo Agbeko Moderator, GEC Pastor, Atonsu District Rev. Dr. Yohannes Ahiabu Rev. (Mrs.) Eseenam Ganyo Synod Clerk, GEC Pastor, Emmanuel Chapel Very Rev. Edem Tettey Rev. Bright Ayikutu Former Moderator, GEC Pastor, Anyako - Seva Rev. Eric Fakor Avah Rev S.O. Attu CLAN, GEC Tema Presbytery Chairfman Rev. Dr. Joseline Fugar (Mrs.) Rev B Sosu Kumasi Presbytery Chairman Parish Pastor, Ashaiman GEC Rev. F.F.K. Tsagli OTHER INVITED MINISTERS: Akatsi Presbytery Chairman CATECHISTS: Rev. Prof. Frank Fugar Immediate Past Kumasi Presbytery Chairman Cat. Gabriel Agbeleseshie Amakom Parish Rev. Courage Selorm Tsali Presbytery Clerk Mr. Victor Waklatsi Amakom Parish Rev. Dr. Smith Tettey Pastor, Amakom Parish Cat. R.A.K. Dzakpasu Anyako-Konu Rev. Raphael Nuworza Pastor, Anyako - Konu ORGANISTS: Rev. Michael MacWoedem Mr. George Dzidzornu Pastor, Ayigya District Choirmaster Amakom Parish Rev. Divine Datsa Mr. Samuel Amedorme Pastor, Asuoyeboah District Amakom Parish Rev. John Ganyo Pastor, Emmanuel Chapel

ORDER OF SERVICE THURSDAY, 7TH JULY, 2022 • Praise / Adoration - COGSU • Sermon - Rt. Rev. Prosper S. Dzomeku - PART ONE: 4:00PM TO 6:00PM: LYING-IN-STATE & VIEWING OF BODY AT GEC, GLORY CHAPEL, AMAKOM Moderator • Offertory - COGSU/ Church Choir PART TWO: 6:00 PM TO 10:00PM: PRE-BURIAL AND • Presentation of Wreaths - Rev. Raphael TRIBUTES NIGHT Nuworza - Pastor GEC Anyako-Konu • Invocation/Call to Worship - Rev. Courage • Prayer for The Family - Rev. Prof. Frank Fugar - Tsali -Presbytery Clerk GEC Advisory Committee Member • Hymn- Ewe: 385 : 1-3/ Eng: 140 :1-3 • Recognition of Guests - Rev. Eric Fakor Avah - • Opening Prayer and Creed • Song Selections- Church Choir / C.Y.B. Director of Church Life & Nurture • Biography - Family • Liturgical Reading - Rev. Dr. Smith Tettey - • Song- Men Ministry • Tributes - Widow, Children, Parish Pastor, GEC Amakom • Interlude (Hymn 161:1-2) • Vote of Thanks - Family Member • Tributes - Amakom Parish, Presbytery, KNUST • Announcements - Pastor / Funeral Planning Dept. of ENG. Colleagues from KNUST E.T.C. Committee • Praises & Adoration - Voices of Glory • Prayer and Benediction - Rt. Rev. Prosper S. • Exhortation - Rev. Dr. Joseline Fugar (Mrs.) • Offertory - Voices of Glory Dzomeku - Moderator • Selection - Church Choir • Closing Hymn - Ewe Hymn 472 / Eng.195 • Presentation of Wreaths - Welfare PART 2: AT THE GRAVE Committee • Recognition of Guests - Host pastor/ • Invocation - Rt. Rev. Prosper S. Dzomeku - Moderator Catechist • Vote of Thanks/Announcements - Family / • Hymn - Ewe Hymn 455: 1-3 / Eng.189 Catechist • Interment • Prayer and Benediction - • Closing Hymn - Ewe: 455: 1-2/ Eng: 189:1-2 • Prayer And Benediction - Rt. Rev. Prosper S. Dzomeku - Moderator • Departure for Anyako • Closing Hymn - Ewe Hymn 435 / Eng. 184 SATURDAY 9TH JULY 2022 AT 9:00AM SUNDAY 17TH, JULY 2022 PART 1: BURIAL SERVICE THANKSGIVING SERVICE AT THE GLOBAL EVANGELICAL CHURCH, GLORY CHAPEL AT THE GLOBAL EVANGELICAL CHURCH, AMAKOM 0N ANYAKO – KONU • Procession • Procession - Church Choir & Clergy • Invocation and opening: • Call to Worship - Rev. Dr. Yohanes K. Ahiabu - Ewe Hymn 4. Synod Clerk • Opening Prayer and Creed • Opening Hymn - Ewe Hymn 4 • Song Selections: • Prayer and Creed - Rev. Dr. Mrs. Joseline Church Choir, COGSU Fugar - Kumasi Presbytery Chairman • Scripture Readings • Selections - Church Choir / COGSU • Memorial Service • Scripture Readings • Praise and Adoration • Biography of the Deceased - Family Member • Sermon • Tributes - Wife, Children, Grandchildren, • Praise and offertory • Announcements GEC - Amakom, Kumasi Presbytery • Closing Prayer and Benediction • Closing Hymn – Ewe Hymn 476:1-2

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IN HIS LIFETIME, HE GAVE MORE THAN HE TOOK. BiographyOFTHELATE PRESBYTER ING. PROFESSOR ISRAEL KOFI DJOKOTO “If you give a little more than you take THE GENESIS And if you try to fix more than you break Israel Kofi Djokoto was born on 18th July, If you’re the kind who takes the time 1941, to, a renowned soil scientist, Reynolds To help a stranger in the rain Kwashivi Djokoto and Grace Ami Fugar, all of blessed memory, at New Tafo in the Akyem There’s a place for people like you Abuakwa District in the Eastern Region of If you stand up for those down on their knees Ghana. He lived most of his pre-school years And lend a voice to those who cannot speak with his mother before joining his other siblings at New Tafo. He was the third born of If you shine a little light and give sight his father, and the first born of his mother. To the ones who’ve lost their way There’s a place for people like you EDUCATION I’ve heard up there the streets are made of gold Israel sailed smoothly academically And when you get there, there’s a hand to hold throughout his education. His early childhood I believe when your days down here are through days were spent at New Tafo attending primary school, together with two of his other There’s a place up there for people like you” siblings from 1947 to 1953. Their father was Gramps Morgan – People like you by then working as a technical officer at the West Africa Cocoa Research Institute (WACRI), Ageing and death are unfortunately inevitable now Cocoa Research Institute, Ghana, (CRIG) at New Tafo. Before the completion of primary in human existence. Life is just like a flower that education, their father relocated to Kumasi to take up an appointment with the Ministry blossoms at sunrise and withers at sunset. Its existence is very, very short, but its significance, which is lasting, lies in the degree to which the environment benefited from its very brief presence. So is the life of all humans on this planet and the distinguished Presbyter Ing Professor Israel Kofi Djokoto is no exception. DJOKOTOISRPREESABYTEERLINKG. OPORFF.I 5

of Agriculture. This made Israel Kofi Djokoto, and he read Mechanical Engineering after the together with two siblings, move to Kumasi preliminary course. in 1953 to start their middle school education at Zion Middle School at Asafo, a suburb of During the four years of the Mechanical Kumasi. Engineering course, he undertook vacation training at the Volta River Authority They walked to school every day. During that (VRA), where he received an excellent period, they were staying with their father recommendation. With flying colours, at the then Cadbury Hall, near the Regional Israel passed out with a Bachelor of Offices of Ghana Broadcasting Corporation Science Degree (First Class Honours) in (GBC), and Zion Middle School was the nearest Mechanical Engineering and was offered middle school. They were later on transferred a teaching assistant job for a year, at the to Ohwimase Middle School, when their Mechanical Engineering Department of the father changed residence to a location behind Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Prempeh College, which became the barracks Technology in 1966. By the time his teaching of the 2nd Infantry Battalion, years later. They assistance-ship job came to an end, he was used to carry, on their heads, lunch (akple) in offered a scholarship for further studies at turns from home to school in a single bowl, the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon, which was big enough to accommodate food Canada, in 1967. Israel Djokoto returned to for three teenagers. Any one of them, who felt Ghana to take up an appointment as a Lecturer shy of the other schoolmates and refused to at the University of Science and Technology in carry the food when it got to their turn, was 1972 after obtaining his Master of Science made to skip lunch for the day. They were, (M. Sc.) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph. D.) in later on, transferred to Kwadaso Middle Power and Machinery in 1969 and 1972, School, which was nearer home, where the respectively. He entered as a student into the other two siblings completed their middle Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and school education in 1957. Technology in 1961 and came back to lecture at the same university with a new name: Israel Kofi Djokoto sat for the then Common University of Science and Technology, in 1972. Entrance Examinations when he was in Form Three at Kwadaso Middle School, passed He also attended the University of Bradford and left to start his secondary education PPC in the United Kingdom in 1980, where at Adisadel College in Cape Coast in 1956. he obtained a Certificate in Planning and He was so brilliant he even came first in Appraisal of Agro-Industrial Project and the Ewe language though he did not study it in Beijer Institute in Sweden and the Institut elementary school. Technologi Bandung in Indonesia in 1985, where he obtained a Certificate in Producer At the end of his secondary education, he sat Gas Technology. for the then General Certificate of Education, Ordinary Level (GCE-O level) examinations Israel Kofi Djokoto, apart from being and passed, giving him the chance to be academically brilliant, was a pianist and admitted to the Kwame Nkrumah University organist, which was a talent acquired through of Science and Technology in 1961, to start the father’s home teaching. While a student a preliminary course leading to engineering. on campus, he made use of this talent by His hall of residence was Queen Elizabeth Hall standing in for the official organist during the 6 DJOKOTOISRPREESABYTEERLINKG. OPORFF.I

university’s students Sunday evening church From 1987 to 1989, Prof Djokoto took services, whenever the official organist, was up the position of Senior Scientist of the absent. In sports, he displayed a lot of talent International Rice Research Institute in Los and even in swimming competitions at the Banos, Philippines in South East Asia. There at University, he was better than most of his the Institute, he was responsible for designs University counterparts from the coast though and popularisation of various mechanics for he grew up at a place far from the coast. He rice producing industries at the international fluently spoke and wrote French and German. level. His duties took him to Japan and many countries in South East Asia, Europe and Latin EMPLOYMENT AND America. ACHIEVEMENTS By dint of dedication, hard work and Presbyter Prof. Israel Djokoto started his commitment, Prof Djokoto, from 0ctober carrier at the University of Science and 1991 to September, 2001, was appointed as Technology as a lecturer at Agricultural an Associate Professor and the Head of the Engineering Department of the University Agricultural Engineering Department of the of Science and Technology of which he Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and was a founding member. From 1972 at Technology. the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Prof Djokoto designed and Prof Djokoto attended several local and introduced many agricultural machines to international conferences and workshops many farming communities in Ghana. that helped in the improvement of Agricultural Engineering Curriculum, and the introduction DJOKOTOISRPREESABYTEERLINKG. OPORFF.I 7

ofseveralinternationally standardised courses Being the Chief Executive Officer of in the areas of Agricultural Engineering and Sonic Engineering Services, he designed, Mechanisation in the Department. He also constructed and built, and provided served on several Boards and Committees in engineering consultancy services in relation to the University. many projects on Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology campus in Kumasi, Prof Djokoto, in the course of his illustrious University Development Studies at Tamale career, designed and fabricated an automatic and Wa, and at Moree in the Central Region palm fruit feed hopper system to a Vinke of Ghana, and several public and private boiler (2Ton/hr) which now operates at the institutions. Juaben Oil Mills Limited. In another oil mill at Mpohor in the Western Region, he upgraded Notable among the projects for Kwame the steam supply and distribution system. Nkrumah University of Science and Technology are the design and supervision He retired in 2001 after serving the University of mechanical and engineering services to for twenty-nine years. Even after retirement the six storey high rise building for KNUST Prof Djokoto, as a senior member of the Institute of Distance Learning in Takoradi, the University, was offered a post retirement Central Lecture Theatre Complex, the four contract by the University, a contract which storey Social Science Complex, the four storey he honored for ten years. Business Graduate School, the six storey high rise cluster of GUSSS Students Hotels, the five Prior to his retirement Prof Djokoto, storey high rise building for KNUST Institute established his own engineering firm, of Distance Learning at Tamale, the Executive Sonic Engineering Services, to provide and Educational Resort for KNUST at Moree engineering consultancy services to the near Cape Coast and the Veterinary Medical general public. Sonic Engineering Services School Teaching Hospital. provided employment for several technically inclined persons. After, he finally retired from The design and supervision of mechanical and active public service in 2011, Prof Djokoto engineering services to the Regional Office for concentrated on providing mechanical and the Electoral Commission of Ghana at Kumasi engineering services through his engineering firm. 8 DJOKOTOISRPREESABYTEERLINKG. OPORFF.I

and Wa, the Regional Office and National he also taught his children how to fish. He Stores for the Electoral Commission of Ghana provided every one of them with enough at Amasaman, Greater Accra and the Central basic conditions of life and, like an eagle, Lecture Theater Complex for the University compelled them to fly, with guidance and of Mines and Technology in Tarkwa were also limited support, by removing the accessibility undertaken by Sonic Engineering Services. to the comfortable nest of life in the home, from them. He really groomed them for the Sonic Engineering Services was also future. Thanks to Prof, his children are now responsible for the design and supervision of responsible men and women contributing mechanical and engineering services to Cal their quota to society as their father did in his Merchant Bank Independence Avenue, Accra, lifetime. the sixteen storey office complex at Ridge, Accra for the Social Security and National RELIGIOUS STATUS AND Insurance Trust which was a multi-billion Cedi PHILANTHROPIC ACTIVITIES project, the fifteen district offices for Electoral Commission, the Manhyia Complex and the Presbyter Prof. Israel Kofi Djokoto was a Trust Lodge at Takoradi for the Social Security member of the Global Evangelical Church, and National Insurance Trust. Prof Djokoto, Ghana and remained a member even after working through Sonic Engineering Services, he breathed his last breath. Originally, before upgraded the Juaben Oil Mills processing the advent of the Global Evangelical Church, plants and refurbished the Smelter No.7 for he was a leading member of the Evangelical the Volta Aluminum Company (VALCO). Presbyterian Church at Amakom, in Kumasi. After the inevitable split, he went along with Sonic Engineering Services also undertook the half that became the Global Evangelical services for various religious bodies and their Church, and played leading roles at both the institutions including the Global Evangelical local and national levels. He was one of the Church, the Apostolic Church, the Christian stalwarts who propped the church until it Service College, the Methodist Church, the became what we are seeing now. He was Resurrection Ministry and the Presbyterian faithful in his faith and service to God and very Church. The works and services were not consistent in the assembly of the saints. limited to institutions alone. It also included an array of private clients for which space and Presbyter Prof. Israel Kofi Djokoto made it his time will not allow us to mention. lifelong goal to serve others selflessly and seek the good of others. In this regard, he was put MARITAL AND FAMILY STATUS his time and financial resources at the disposal of the church of God and the rest of society. Prof. Israel Kofi Djokoto, in 1967, married Presbyter Prof Djokoto used his brilliance, Presbyter Celestine Kate Ametewee from talents and expertise as an Engineer to the Ametewee family from Anyako, after a assist in various infrastructural development year of courtship. The union was blessed with projects of the Global Evangelical Church. In five children: Sylvia, Rex, Regina, Senanu and this regard, he was instrumental in planting Susan. various branches of the Global Evangelical Church including the Anyako-Konu branch. Presbyter Prof. Israel Kofi Djokoto took the responsibility of the upkeep of his family and As a lover of music, the young brass band of the education of his children very seriously. the Glory Chapel, Global Evangelical Church, Just as he provided his children with fish, DJOKOTOISRPREESABYTEERLINKG. OPORFF.I 9

Amakom Parish is a brainchild of Prof I.K on the late afternoon of 25th April, 2022, he Djokoto. He also acquired the current set of hurriedly bid farewell to everyone without wind instruments and drums for the Parish. waiting for a response. As if, trying to say to everyone that, the Easter celebrations were CONCLUSION just enough for him, Presbyter Prof. Israel Kofi Djokoto left for glory, leaving his loved ones Just as every story definitely has an end, an with nothing to say, but a “fare thee well, account of the life story of Presbyter Prof. and may his soul rest in perfect peace in the Israel Kofi Djokoto, which is becoming a bosom of the Creator”. history, has also come to an end. Unlike a fairy tale which ends with “and they lived happily Presbyter Professor Israel Kofi Djokoto in his ever after”, this account is ending with “Fare lifetime, gave more than he took from society, thee well”. he fixed more than broke, and took the time to help a stranger in the rain. He stood up Presbyter Prof. Israel Kofi Djokoto, for those down on their knees, lent a voice deteriorated in health a few months into the to those who could not speak and more year 2022. He was responding to treatment importantly shone his light and gave sight to and his wife, children and family members the ones who lost their way. There is definitely were expecting to celebrate Fathers’ Day, a place up in heaven for people like Presbyter which is now attracting enthusiasm just Ing. Professor Israel Kofi Djokoto. like Mothers’ Day, and also to celebrate his eighty-first birthday, with him. Unfortunately, 10 DJOKOTOISRPREESABYTEERLINKG.OPORFF.I

DJOKOTOISRPREESABYTEERLINKG. OPORFF.I 11

DESCENDANTS OF BESA ADAKPƐ DZOKOTO GUSTAV KENDAL KWASI DJOKOTO        BESA-ADAKPE VIVƆ LUCIA HIATƆDZEWO DJOKOTO              DZOKOTO ELLEN AGBEEDOAFOME DJOKOTO       VIOLA MELEKPƆM DJOKOTO          BEGAT WINFRED AMEWOKLINA DJOKOTO       REYNOLDS KWASIVI DJOKOTO          BOKƆ DƆGBLE NYAVƆGBE BEGAT     BENJAMIN BESA DJOKOTO                     DZOKOTO (MALE ) ALICE YOXOMI DJOKOTO                       KORKUKPA FUGAR                    NANE DJOKOTO                                       & WOSUDUI FUGAR                    NAPOLEON A. K. DJOKOTO                     KPEDATOR FUGAR                    REGINA AKU DJOKOTO   MINAWOE SHITƆ DZOKOTO ZANYABU FUGAR (FEMALE ) JUSTICE DJOKOTO                             DUMEGA JOSEPH AIDAM            JUDGE DJOKOTO                               & FIAMEFA AIDAM (TOGBUI                   THRONE DJOKOTO                                AKROBOTU‐AKPATE II )    LIVINGSTONE DJOKOTO                   SALOME DASHIE DZOKOTO GETTOR AIDAM KWAMI DJOKOTO                                 (FEMALE ) EYI DJOKOTO                                  JOHN AMUZU DJOKOTO                 YETSAVI DJOKOTO                            & MEKPOWO DJOKOTO                      DELA DJOKOTO CHRISTIAN SUSUAKU DJOKOTO CHARLES BUNYAN AMETEƑE ENOCH M. K. ADADEVOH                 DZOKOTO MRS. LETITIA ZOMELO‐KUAWU     GEYITOR ADADEVOH                        MRS. CHARITY ZOMELO FIAWOO  AWOYOGA ADADEVOH                    (TƆGBI TEŊGE DZOKOTO IV) HOPE ZOMELO                                AMEYI ADADEVOH                            KOFI BESA ZOMELO                        BERTHA ADADEVOH & WISDOM NANI ZOMELO                NOBLE ZOMELO   HUDZENGOR SENEAFU                 DANIEL YIBƆ DZOKOTO (MALE ) KOFI SENEAFU                                YAOGàAHLIJAH                        GOVENƆ SENEAFU & ADZOWƆVI AHLIJAH                KODZO GBEDE AHLIJAH           BRILLIANT YAOVI DJOKOTO ARAH GOBOAME DZOKOTO VICTORIA ELI AHLIJAH (FEMALE ) & ABϽLITSI ABƆƉƆ DZOKOTO (FEMALE ) & ALICE YOMENU DZOKOTO (FEMALE ) & BERTHA MAMA MENSA DZOKOTO (FEMALE ) & SOGA DZOKOTO (MALE ) 12 DJOKOTOISRPREESABYTEERLINKG.OPORFF.I

DESCENDANTS OF BOKƆ DƆGBLE NYAVƆBGE DZOKOTO GENEALOGY OF PROF. ISRAEL DJOKOTO Offsprings are randomly arranged because of space KEGBLẼAƑE, BOKƆ DƆGBLE TƆGBIGÃ ADELA BLEBUA 1st EVER KNOWN EƲE-FIA OF ŊƆTSĨE DAUGHTER OF TϽGBIGÃ KUGBϽKA GBE & ELDER NYAVƆBGE DZOKOTO BEGAT SISTER OF TϽGBI GEMEDRA , CHIEF PRIEST OF AGNES AFI BEGAT THE DOGBOS AT HOGBE FAUSTINA ADZO KOMI ADZRAKU MARYB KAFUI FOLI GUSTAV KENDAL KWASHI VICTORIA ADZRAKU TƆGBIGÃ ADELA DZAVÕE ? UNKNOWN \"ƑOMESRƆ\", CHRISTIANA MANA (MAMA DJOKOTO ENYONAM ADZRAKU 3rd EƲE-FIA OF ŊƆTSĨE KING EKPE'S MOTHER ROSE ADZRAKU BLEWU II ) & SARAH MANAVI ADZRAKU TƆGBIGÃ ADELA TƆBLE KOKUI DOE KUTUA ASƆŊGOE MAKARIOS WORLA 5th EƲE-FIA OF ŊƆTSĨE SISTER OF TƆGBI ATSU ƲENYA , CHIEF PRIEST OF KWASI ZIKUNU SOLI LUCIA HIATODZEWO MARILYN AYIWOR DZOKOTO NO LINK THE DOGBOS & FOUNDER OF AŊLƆ STATE AMI & HENRIETTA EWURASI KLU BAMETENU MAMAGÃ KOKUI-ƲALA ADELAOBE AKU EBENEZER aka AVUMEGBEAETSƆNUO (MIEƉOAƑE I ) JACOB KODJO DEGADZOR ELLEN AGBEEDOAFOME JOYCE RUTH MAWULI alias ABLƆƉE / BAMETSIKPO GODSON YAO DEHA DZOKOTO ROSE ADZO HALF SISTER OF KPONOE FUIGÃ (SRI I). SETH FIEKEYE PATIENCE ESI GBEKOR-KOVE TƆGBIGÃ TSATSU ADELADZẼA I & HOPE 2nd AWOAME FIA & HEAD OF BATE CLAN WHO MAMA KOKUI RAPHAEL KWAMI EMMANUEL RETRIEVED THE AŊLƆ AWOAME ZIKPI FROM OF AŊLƆGÃ / LASHIBI DANI EL KWADJO WINFRED AMEWOKLINA LIVINGSTONE KWAMINA ŊƆTSĨE AFTER THE MASS EXODUS. PROF ISRAEL KOFI DZOKOTO VICTOR KWESI MENSAH MAMA KOKUI-ƲALA EMMANUEL KWAME EPHRAIM MERCY MILLS-LAMPTEY TƆGBIGÃ AGƆƉƆ AGƆƉƆMATU OF AŊLƆGÃ / LASHIBI CHARLOTTE AMI & FREDERICK 7th AWOAME FIA OF AŊLƆ MRS BEATRICE SOSSU-KUMASSAH ESTHER VENICE ADWOA LOÃƑE KOKUI EƔI TINASHI, REGINA REYNOLDS KWASHIVI SOLOMON KWAME (PAA SOLO) DUMEGÃ ATRAM ADZEƉUAMA of ƲETA & SISTER OF TƆGBI AKABA I OF AƑEGÃME, EBENEZER KWAMI DJOKOTO KWAME OF LASHIBI, AŊLƆGÃ JOHNNY GEORGE ANYAKO SAMMY KORBLA & SETH MRS FLORENCE ADZO AMARTEY FELICIA TƆGBI GLIGUI I MAMA ABƆBI NAKANATU DAVID KOFI BENJAMIN JOYCE MENSAH SAMMY 1st DUFIA OF ANYAKO, of AƑEGÃME & MIAFIA OF OF DOE KLADZI ZUKPE FAMILY OF ƲETA JERVIS KODZOVI (BESA) DZOKOTO ELIZABETH MAWUTOR OFFEIBEA KWESI WILLIE AŊLƆ, LASHIBI MAMA AFIBA GAYITU & JOYCE MAWULI OF ASOMA / ATSIAVI / ABƆME / ATSIGATE / ANYAKO VINOLIA GBEDEMAH ALEX SEƑENU TƆGBI DZOKOTO I TSIDI GBEDEMAH ALICE YOXOMI DZOKOTO BERNICE MENSAH 2nd DUFIA OF ANYAKO, MIAFIA OF AŊLƆ, LASHIBI LETSA KƆSHIE GBEDEMAH COL ANNIE E. A. KUDJO GBEDEMAH JUDITH MAWUENYO BENJAMIN AGBEKO NOBLE KPƆMƆME RUTH DZƆGBENYUIE HILDA ELORM KODZOVI & PATIENCE GADEKOR BESA ADAKPE VIVƆ DZOKOTO KPƆKPLENUI KORBLA ALORYILO PEACE OF ANYAKO / ABƆME / KPOTA KORSHIE NANE DZOKOTO SETH KWAKU WONUAFA GBƆGBƆFIA, ADZO PAULINA BOKƆ DƆGBLE NYAVƆGBE DZOKOTO OF ALAGBATI / LASHIBI & SIBLINI FAMILY OF KORMI & ROSE MAWUTOR AMEGA FELICIA ELIKPLIM REYNOLDS KWASIVI DJOKOTO AƑEYEME NAPOLEON A. KODZO HOPE GRACE AMI FUGAR FELIX AIDAM DZOKOTO PROF. ISRAEL K. FREDERICK YAO TORKONO DJOKOTO CELESTINE KATE AMETEƑE KORBLA TORKONOO & \"ALHAJI\" KOFI TORKONOO MRS SYLVIA ESI AMOKU-MENSAH MARRIED = FLORENCE AMA TORKONOO VIOLA MELEKPOM DR REX KWADZO DJOKOTO BEGAT = DZOKOTO MS REGINA AWO DJOKOTO (ESQ) DR SENANU KWE SI DJOKOTO & MRS SUSAN DZIFA KPOH REGINA AKU DZOKOTO DESCENDANTS OF REYNOLDS KWASHIVI DJOKOTO Children (siblings) and Grandchildren (cousins) KEKLE REYNOLDS KWASHIVI BEGAT NUKUNU DJOKOTO BUBUNE BEGAT DORCAS AKPENE IRENE OFORI SYLVIA ESI RAPHAEL KWAMENA ESTHER MAWUSI REX KWADZO (Dr) DANIEL DELA KOJO REGINA AWO (Esq) & THEODORE KWAMI KWESI SENANU (Dr) SUSAN DZIFA KWADJO (DANIEL) JOREMY Called to Glory JADEN PETER KWABLA ASARE JOELLE & AGATHA TORKU Lt Col. MICHAEL SOSU- AMY TORKU Prof. ISRAEL KOFI KUMASSAH STEPHEN TORKU Called to Glory JOAN TORKU KAREN AKOFA & JOEL DELASI MICHAEL PHILIP EYRAM CAROL EMMANUEL KWAMI EPHRAIM CHRISTIANA AMA KOKUI ASABEA CHAMILLE & ABUI AMI FAFALI AFI MAWUKO RICHARD AMARTEY CHARLOTTE AMI KOFI MAWULI SAMSON AMARTEY KWAKU ELIKEM SANDRA AMARTEY & JOHN TEYE AMARTEY DOREEN ESINAM BEATRICE SOSU-KUMASSAH FLORENCE ENYONAM JERBY (KOBBY) Called to Glory BERNICE DZIFA LUCILLE JOANA AFIA ASAREBEA JESSE & JERVIS REGINA (BABY ) & EBENEZER & JOHNNY & SAMMY KWABLA & FLORENCE ADZO Called to Glory & DAVID KOFI & JERVIS KODJOVI & ELIZABETH AKOSUA MAWUTOR OFFEIBEA DJOKOTOISRPREESABYTEERLINKG. OPORFF.I 13

FIFTY-SIX YEARS AGO, HIMAETNADYSOOUNMGE, , INTELLIGENT, HUMBLE, AND GOD-FEARING MAN TRIBUTE TO MY BELOVED HUSBAND BY WIFE: PRESBYTER MRS. CELESTINE KATE DJOKOTO “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better.” FPhilippians 1:21-23 ifty-six years ago, I met a young, handsome, intelligent, humble, and God-fearing man in Kumasi. I had moved to Kumasi from Accra to look for greener pastures after my education in Accra. Fortunately, I gained employment at the then Town and Country Planning Department as a stenographer. Mr. Israel Kofi Djokoto was then a graduate of the Faculty of Engineering, University of Science and Technology, Kumasi and working as a Teaching Assistant at the Faculty of Engineering. The real magic happened at one of the church services at the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Amakom, Kumasi. We were both members of 14 DJOKOTOISRPREESABYTEERLINKG.OPORFF.I

that Church. He spotted me in my choir robe because hard work never killed anyone. We during the procession of the choir. He later opened our house to their friends and some told me. students studying at the University. During the vacations, our house became a temporary After the church service, he came with my store for students’ suitcases and boxes. You elder sister, Mrs. Ellen Ametewee-Kwawu to even gave some of them the opportunity to her house where I lived to get acquainted with lodge with us during vacations. me. My sister and Mr. Israel Djokoto knew each other from the University of Science You became the head of the Department of and Technology campus. My sister was then Agricultural Engineering at the University working at the Horticulture Department. for a long time. By dint of hard work, you were promoted to Associate Professor. We In fact, our relationship was ordained by God. celebrated your promotion and gave glory to Within six months, our love for each other grew God. extremely strong and by the end of one year, he performed the necessary rites because God again opened another door for us when he was about to travel to the University of you were appointed a Research Fellow at the Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada for further International Rice Research Institute in Los studies. After his departure to Saskatchewan, Banos, Philippines. By the grace of God, our Canada he arranged for me to join him after he children and I joined you. The years spent in completed his Masters’ Degree in Mechanical the Philippines made a great difference in all Engineering. our lives, both spiritually and physically. There was not a Sunday that we absented ourselves We had a very enjoyable married life when we from church, the Church among the Palms, were abroad. He continued with his studies in Los Banos. Our spiritual lives grew from as a Ph. D. student at the same University in strength to strength and all of us got closer Agricultural Engineering. My husband, being to God. very a thoughtful person, encouraged me to further my education so I also took a few When we returned to Ghana, you zealously courses to improve my secretarial skills. took on the work of God. I also rejoined the Church Choir of which I am still a robing Our stay in Saskatchewan drew us closer to chorister. The children were active in Sunday God because life was not an easy one without School activities. The years passed by quickly God. God being so good, before the end our and we were able to sail through all the storms stay in Saskatchewan, I became pregnant of life because we were always together as a with our first child (Sylvia) who was born team. You were a disciplinarian. You were firm after our return to Ghana. In August 1975 our but fair. Nobody could make you change your marriage was consecrated at the Great Hall mind about decisions you had careful thought by Reverend Rockson, the then Chaplain of about and made. the University of Science and Technology. God later blessed us with four more children, Rex, You were a good father, a loving husband and a Regina, Kwesi and Susan. wonderful companion to me and our children. Our children grew up knowing the Lord, as you Daddy, when our children were growing up you always wished. We attended the graduations taught them Christian values. You implanted and weddings of our children and the naming the fear of God in them. You did not want us ceremonies of our grandchildren together. The to employ a housekeeper and you insisted wonderful memories we created together are that every one of them should be given a etched in my memory forever. You supported portion of the household chores to attend to me to discharge special duties assigned to me DJOKOTOISRPREESABYTEERLINKG. OPORFF.I 15

by the church at the local and national levels. children. Your passing has created a great You were indeed my counsellor. vacuum in my life, but I thank God for the cross of Jesus Christ. I am at peace because You fell ill three years ago but God in His mercy Jesus has made the way for us to be able see healed you and we went back to our normal each other again. I have peace because the activities. On 24th April 2022, you were rushed cross has given you the doorway to heaven. to the hospital for urgent medical attention. I have peace because the cross will heal our We fervently prayed for your speedy recovery family and make us whole again. I have peace but that was not to be. Your soul departed because the cross of Jesus Christ has given to be with your maker the next day because you ETERNAL REST. your time on earth was done and you were to return to heaven. Daddy, my dear husband, rest well. Oh death! oh death! you took away my I. K. may your soul rest peacefully in the bosom covering. “Daddy” as I affectionately called of the Lord. you, the unexpected has happened with your departure, and I am still reeling from Hede nyuie; the experience. I now have a profound understanding of what happened in the Dzudzor le nutifafa me. Garden of Eden between God, and Adam and Eve. God had said they would die if they ate Finally, I wish to appreciate the efforts of the the fruit, that death brought separation. I have highly professional team of doctors who did never understood it like I do now. Death has their very best in caring for my husband. Also, separated me from my beloved husband. I wish to extend my gratitude to the pastors, and the entire Global Evangelical Church Oh daddy, you were my father, counsellor, for their prayers and support during these friend, brother, mentor, and the father of my difficult times. May God shine his light on you and bless you abundantly. I know I.K. is smiling 16 DJOKOTOISRPREESABYTEERLINKG.OPORFF.I down on us.

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TTHOE WUOSRLYD KONUEWWYOEURASE“SPRIMOF.P”, LSYOMOE CUARLLEDDAYODUD“IY. K..’, A DADDY LIKE NO OTHER. TRIBUTE TO OUR WONDERFUL FATHER SYLVIA, REX, REGINA, SENANU AND SUSAN “No one knows when his hour will come; as fish captured in a cruel net, or as birds caught in a snare. So also, are men Otrapped by evil times that fall unexpectedly upon them” Ecclesiastes 9:12time encouraged and helped us to stand on n 25th April 2022, we were struck in our own feet. shock and could not believe the fact that our father has left us. Our world As an intelligent and intellectual man, daddy as we know it had changed forever always stressed the importance of education with your passing. It is unimaginable and hard work in life to become a great that our father has left us to return person. You did not pamper us when it came no more, and we have to accept the to education. You never judged us by gender, fact and prepare ourselves for our future you treated us all equally, you made sure you journey without our father. provided all we needed and went the extra The world knew you as “Prof.”, some called mile to include our friends as well. All you you “I. K.’, to us you were simply our daddy. asked of us in return was just to make good A daddy like no other. There are not enough grades and bring home our certificates. words to describe how important our dad was Daddy enjoyed driving us to school. In to us. Daddy was our shield, our protector, secondary school, his delight was in dropping and our provider. Daddy was kind, patient, us off and picking us up when the term was inspirational, dependable, had a great sense of over. He never missed visiting hours and paid humor, honest and decisive. As your children us surprise visits. you taught us, nurtured us, fed us, dressed us, disciplined us and most importantly, loved us As a family man, daddy believed in keeping the unconditionally. family together so when he was appointed Growing up, our home was filled with love. as a Visiting Scientist by the International Daddy always made us feel safe at home and Rice Research Institute in the Philippines, he made sure we never found ourselves in harm’s arranged for us to join him there for three way. Daddy loved to cook for us. We always years. Our stay in Los Banos, Philippines looked forward to Sundays after church with made a huge difference in our lives. excitement because Daddy would prepare his Our father was our personal tour guide, Sunday special meals for us. Though a loving whether travelling around on the streets father, you were a disciplinarian who did not of Los Banos, London, Hong Kong or in city spare the rod to spoil the child. Daddy, all the of Manila, it was always an adventure with 18 DJOKOTOISRPREESABYTEERLINKG.OPORFF.I

Daddy. Visiting historical places and joy rides when need be. When we grew up and entered were always memorable experiences. Daddy the world of work, daddy always advised us was always behind the camera, fixated on to work hard, respect authority and most capturing us in the moment. Most of the time importantly to live within our means. He took it forgetting to capture himself as well. upon himself to buy a car for each of us after school to give us a head start in life and make When daddy travelled, we always waited in our lives more comfortable. This was despite anticipation for his return because we knew for the fact that some of us did not know how to sure that daddy would bring back a truckload drive by then and so we had no option but to of goodies for us. Even, when we were in our learn how to drive which he joyfully taught us. various houses in secondary school and the university, our friends were more excited than You were ever present at our graduations us because they knew that when daddy visited to celebrate our academic achievements, food would be bountiful for weeks to come. That weddings to our life partners and naming made us even wonder if he was their daddy or ceremonies of your grandchildren. During ours. Christmas, daddy always had presents and treats for his grandchildren. Daddy pushed us beyond our comfort zone to enable us to learn the lessons of life. We We were your pride and joy. Daddy loved to talk remember when it was time to choose our about us, his children, to anyone who would various secondary schools, your main goal was listen about our numerous achievements. We to make us independent so choosing a school always knew you were proud of us and you near home was never an option. You made us made it known to the world. choose schools in Cape Coast, Aburi or Accra to ensure that we could not come home at random. As we look back over the time that God gifted you to us, we thank you for all you did for us, Our father was always supportive of dreams but for all the times you were by our sides to help did not hesitate to point us in the right direction and support us to celebrate our successes, DJOKOTOISRPREESABYTEERLINKG. OPORFF.I 19

to understand our problems and provide We know you are in heaven and heaven is solutions to them. Our hearts are filled with grateful to have you there each day, to bring gratitude for teaching us by your example, your easy laughter and your great sense of the love for God, the value of hard work, good humor. We are sure that God already knows judgment, honesty, courage and integrity. We the wonderful father you have been. are grateful for the sacrifices you made so that we could have the very best. We thank In our sorrow and pain, we smile and are you for who we are today. thankful to God that you are in a better place, free from all the pain and sufferings of this Dad, you lived a long and happy life with our earth. We are of good courage because we mummy, and only succumbed to ill-health know that while you are away from the body, right at the very end. Even at the very end, you you are at home with the Lord. encouraged us and was always telling us ‘it is well’ when we called to check up on you. You We are comforted that we will definitely were an imposing figure of a man, a tall, dark, meet again, in heaven, the place where God and handsome character whose reassuring resides, where the streets are made up of presence we all felt at all times. gold, “where the river of the water of life flows freely and the tree of life is available once As we gather here today to remember and again, yielding fruit monthly with leaves that commemorate your life, we bid you farewell heal the nations” (Revelation 22:1-2) as we mourn the loss of a lively and dignified soul. A soul that brought joy and fulfilment to “Cheerio”, daddy, many, and whose legacy will live on forever. We will forever miss you, daddy, Daddy, you have left your footprints in the Till we meet again in eternity daddy dearest, sands of time. May your soul rest in perfect peace. Daddy, hede nyuie; Dzudzo le nutifafa me. 20 DJOKOTOISRPREESABYTEERLINKG.OPORFF.I

PUNCTUALITY, HARD WORK AND COMMITMENT WERE YOUR PRINCIPLES TRIBUTE TO OUR LOVELY GRANDFATHER BY GRANDCHILDREN “A good life gets passed on to the grandchildren” you told us not to be nervous and be confident. The most precious gift we will cherish all our life is the W Proverbs 13:22a necklace with our abbreviations on it. hen we heard about the news of your passing on Monday the 25th of April, 2022, We will always remember our Saturday morning we were very astonished. It did not make breakfast ritual, at exactly 7:00 a.m. you would call any sense to us because our hero, protector us for breakfast and even dish the food for us which and friend was no more. Grandpa (as we was mostly oats with egg and sausage. Whenever affectionately called you), we still cannot you left for a business trip you will bring back food come to terms with the fact that you have stuffs and gifts. left us and that’s for a lifetime. You always wanted to spend our vacation with us You were a hardworking, kind and God-fearing man somewhere aside from Kumasi to relax our brain who always thought about others and not yourself. from school. Family gatherings like Christmas and other festivals were beautiful and loving memories we shared with We are short of words to explain how important you you. You taught us a lot of things, which will be with us were to us. There are not enough words to explain in remembrance of you. the kind person that you were. The void you have left in our lives cannot be refilled by anybody. All we Punctuality, hard work and commitment were your want to say is THANK YOU for the sweet memories principles you always carried with you and you also and lessons you shared with us. You will forever taught us same. You considered everybody your family. be in our hearts. We promise to be principled hard When we received our end of term results, you would workers to put “bread and butter” on our tables. ask us for our position and take us for shopping to buy whatever we wanted. You also took us out during our Rest in peace, Grandpa. birthdays and bought us chocolate for Valentine’s Day, We love you, always. lol. You always advised as that when it comes to elective- subjects we should choose the one we are familiar with. You always advised us to “TALK ABOUT THINGS THAT WILL BRING YOU BREAD AND BUTTER”. You surprised us with presents to motivate us to learn and get better grades. Because of your punctuality, you used to take us to school at exactly 6:30 a.m., after a breakfast of milo with bread and sausage, and if we were even one minute late, we were scolded. You also used to send us to bed at exactly 8:30 p.m. on the dot because you said we need enough rest to meet you at 6:30 a.m. the next day. During our examination, you would sacrifice your evening news time and help us with our studies. When we fell ill, even if it was twelve o’clock midnight, you would send us to the hospital to get treatment sacrificing your beauty sleep to take care of us. During our graduation, you bought a brand-new camera and took pictures yourself. When the camera got spoilt you were very hurt. Before the graduation, DJOKOTOISRPREESABYTEERLINKG. OPORFF.I 21

OUR BROTHER TRIBUTE BY SIBLINGS HAS FINISHED HIS ASSIGNED ROLES ON EARTH “Humans are appointed to be physically born into this world once, live one life and depart through death once, and after that, attend a universal award ceremony in the next world, where our eternal destiny would be determined according to the results of how we managed that one life”. In the light of this biblical truth, we cannot argue Hebrews 9:28 (Amplified Version) out our case against our brother’s transition. How can we exercise our human rights, while Our brother has finished his assigned roles on God is exercising His Godly rights? He is the one earth, and we have also learned the hard lesson who brought our brother into this world, and He that everything that has a beginning surely has is the one who has called him back home, based an end. So how would our end be?  We all have a mission to accomplish, and the departure of our brother is a constant reminder to us to on reasons, we do not have the right to appeal. It accomplish our mission the way it is supposed to was already appointed since the foundation of this be accomplished. world. We do not have any power or any questions to ask. We only have many lessons to learn from it. The way our brother lay before us now, reminds us that life is not forever, but we know that eternity Papa, our father, brought us, fourteen (14) in is sure. His picture on earth is complete and well number, to this world, gave us education and taught painted. So, will everyone’s picture be completed, us the way of the Lord. His desire was that we all live but how are we painting it? That is another together as siblings. Humans, as we are, protocols lesson to be learned from this occasion. When we were sometimes broken, but as exhibited here wither from this world, will we be able to sprout today, we are happy to say that, just as the forest beautifully in the presence of God? Today, as we has various species of plants, the whole group is live, we need to settle everything with Jesus, for considered a single forest. We had differences, tomorrow might be too late to decide where to but our brother did contribute his quota toward spend eternity. Our lives, from now until we die, the achievement of our father’s wish in a unique have a way of clarifying what really matters in life. way. We, who are alive now, only have lessons to learn from where he reached, and then pick up the We are reminded, by this solemn occasion, of mantle, and move our father’s wish to completion. Paul’s words to Timothy, which is a good model to follow: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished When life is over and those who are alive publish our the race, I have kept the faith” (II Timothy 4:7-8). tribute, how would we want it to read? Our brother In the end, what is needful is to fight life’s spiritual achieved many, many great things, judging from battles and finish well. Our brother has fought his what is written in the various tributes so far, which fight. It is now our turn to continue fighting ours. has elevated the name we bear, but as human as any other person is, he might have, unintentionally, Thank you, brother, for the lessons we learnt stepped on some toes, who are, at this moment, from your life. It was well delivered. This has reading his unwritten tribute. Thank God that been a great opportunity of learning, which is not no known instrument exist that can broadcast acquired in the classroom. the unwritten tribute to our hearing, to sully our Farewell, Prof. celebration. We only have lessons to learn from our Presbyter, Fare Thee Well. brother’s feats. Yi na dzudzɔ le ŋutifafame. Xede nyuie, Amen. 22 DJOKOTOISRPREESABYTEERLINKG.OPORFF.I

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HE GRACIOUSLY PROVIDED A HOME FOR US WHERE WE FELT LOVED AND GENUINELY CARED FOR. TRIBUTE TO PROF ISRAEL KOFI DJOKOTO W BY SISTERS AND BROTHERS- IN-LAWS hen our sister Kate married Professor Djokoto some fifty-four years ago, it opened a special door of God’s blessings into our lives. We, Augustus Joy Biase K. Ametepe, Grace Ametepe (now Mrs. Grace Demordzi), Joseph Kwaku Addo Ametepe, and Florence Ametepe became his in-laws. A door of opportunity and progress was also opened to us by becoming his in-laws. After our father died, he took us under his wings and cared for us and provided for us stability and opportunity of progress in life. At various stages in our lives, we all had the blessed opportunity of moving from Anyako, our hometown, to Kumasi, to live with our brother-in-law and our sister and their growing family. 24 DJOKOTOISRPREESABYTEERLINKG.OPORFF.I

Our dearest brother-in-law played a crucial role in all of our lives. He was very generous and so good to us in ways words cannot fully describe. He graciously provided a home for us where we felt loved and genuinely cared for. In fact, his home was where we learned life’s lessons: such as selfless service, sacrifice, submission and seeking the good of others. He was a great teacher, who enjoyed teaching us what we needed to learn to succeed in life. He guided and gave us sound advice regarding making prudent and practical choices in life. More importantly, he was always ready and willing to help us in any way we needed help. He singled-handedly supported two of us in our education in vocational training and secondary and university education. His loving and willing assistance and genuine care for our lives meant that he would gladly and graciously make it possible for two of us to travel abroad and experienced life in different cultures. He was also very instrumental in helping us in our faith journey in life. Because he was faithful in his faith and service to God and very consistent in assembling with God’s people for worship, we all had the opportunity to come to know and serve the Lord. We fondly remembered Sundays in our brother-in- law’s home. Sundays were always special for the whole family from morning till evening. Our brother-in-law led the way and made sure we were all ready for the Sunday service. He would then drive all the family to the service where we worshiped the Lord. Upon returning home, we would have a Sunday feast, provided by our brother-in-law. Then we would rest and relax. O, the cherished memories we have of our dearest brother-in-law, are many and meaningful! They remind us of his genuine care for us, his generosity to us, his goodness to us, his guidance to us, and his graciousness to us among many! Dearest brother-in-law, indeed, you were a great blessing of God, yes, a great blessing of God beyond belief, in our lives. We greatly appreciate you and are genuinely grateful to God for all the ways He had used you in our lives! May your soul rest in perfect peace in the presence of the loving and the living God! DJOKOTOISRPREESABYTEERLINKG. OPORFF.I 25

WE’VE LOST OUR FATHER, OUR GRANDPA, OUR PROF, OUR ANCHOR, OUR COUNSELLOR, OUR ENGINEER… TRIBUTE TO PROFESSOR ISRAEL KOFI DJOKOTO IBY DAUGHTERS-IN-LAW, MANSA AND FREDA t’s still hard to accept that you’re gone. I can still picture you in your seat at your residence in Fumesua welcoming us with the warmest ‘hello’ as we walked through the front door. One of my first encounters with Prof. was at Noble House restaurant, where I first met the entire family. It was a warm gathering of father, mother and children opening their arms to embrace us the newbies; myself and Freda. One thing that registered on that encounter and others that ensued was the high value you placed on family. To you family was everything, it was prime and to be treasured. In the times that followed, we were witnesses to how you did everything and went everywhere with mum; a silent lesson you offered on what an ideal relationship should look like. Your grandchildren were gold to you. You never missed a naming ceremony and would always push to have them come over whenever the chance would arise. Recalling personal efforts, you made to ensure they would get admission to one of the best schools in Kumasi brings tears to my eyes, for this you did even when your strength was failing. You were the epitome of hard work, a trait you Daddy or our adorable Grandpa as we bequeathed to all your children. You were an affectionately called you, accepted and engineer par excellence who was always ready treated us as your own. You were a father, to put his expertise at our disposal. You took a father who would ensure we had delicious pride in offering expert advice and personally bread every week to eat even if it meant supervising our project. It stands tall today, delivering it yourself… A father who would testifying of your prowess. call and check up on us and engage us with endearing conversations at every visit. Prof., your name alone opened doors for us. Indeed, your conversations were deep for Oh, how we held our heads high when your they expressed knowledge, advised and name was mentioned and we associated with encouraged all in one. it. 26 DJOKOTOISRPREESABYTEERLINKG.OPORFF.I

How can I forget the annual get I AM GREATLY togethers at your residence which HONORED YOU PLAYED you always facilitated? They were A BIG ROLE IN MY LIFE so enjoyable and the highlight of AS MY FATHER-IN-LAW. our Christmas celebrations. You always put our interest first above TRIBUTE TO PROFESSOR ISRAEL KOFI DJOKOTO yours, even through your ailment you manned up all the pain you BY SON-IN-LAW, JULIUS were going through and would always answer ‘I’m much better” We were saddened by your transition but we take or “Today I’m very well” perhaps consolidation in the fact that you died in the Lord, so we wouldn’t get too worried hence you are resting from your labor of love. or put a complete halt to our activities on your account. Prof, as he was affectionately called by us, indeed we have lost a very caring and loving husband, father, Last Easter Sunday is still fresh father-in-law and a grandfather. I am greatly honored in my mind. We all gathered you played a big role in my life as my father-in-law. round your bedside with your Your keen interest in every one of us is worth emulating and your grandchildren and sang and extreme love for your grandchildren is explicable. danced at your bedside with joy. You managed a smile through it You have been a great pillar and a support system throughout all despite your pain. Little did we the birth of your grandson, Cyrus-Israel. Your consistent check- know it would be one of our last ups on the family is greatly appreciated. times together… Prof, since I have known you these few years, I can attest to the We’ve lost our father, our fact that you love God and had the welfare of the Church of God Grandpa, our Prof, our anchor, our at heart. The many travels for church programs even when you counsellor, our engineer… Tears were supposed to be on retirement is an epitome of selflessness flood our faces as we remember to the body of Christ. Your generosity and great sense of honor you. We sorely miss you but we cannot be overemphasized. cling to the precious memories for comfort. We know you are in a But today, all we have of you are great memories which we will better place keep alive in our hearts. We are saying thank you for all that you are, all that you stood for, all that you have left behind. We are Prof, you’ve fought the good fight, hopeful that you have found peace where you are. you’ve finished the race, you have kept the faith. Now there is in store for you the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to you on that day—and not only to you, but also to all who have longed for his appearing. Rest peacefully in the bosom of the Lord, dear Daddy. Prof. Hedenyuie! Daddy, dzidzor le nutifafa me! Till we meet again. REST WELL….. DJOKOTOISRPREESABYTEERLINKG. OPORFF.I 27

...I HAVE “I have fought a good fight; FINISHED I have finished the race. THE RACE. I have kept the faith”. I HAVE KEPT THE FAITH O 2 Timothy 4:7 H death! Why have you denied us the opportunity to journey TRIBUTE TO PROF. a little while with our uncle. The sad news of the passing ISRAEL KOFI DJOKOTO of our uncle came to us with a deep shock and pain. This is BY THE AMARTEYS because two weeks before this sad incident occurred, one of RICHARD, SAMPSON, us was in Kumasi for an official assignment and visited our SANDRA AND JOHN uncle; ‘PROF.’ as we affectionately called him and the family in their home. He was doing well by God’s Grace. NIECE AND NEPHEWS We thank God for your life and for the period you shared with us. How can we forget your thoughtfulness when our mother, your sister, Florence Adzo Djokoto went to be with the Lord seventeen years ago? Fortunately for us, during the absence of our mother of blessed memory, you stepped in figuratively as our mother and we will forever be grateful. You made time amidst your busy schedule to grace our engagements and weddings in Accra with your presence and presents even though you lived in Kumasi. ‘PROF’., we cannot forget how you encouraged and comforted us when you came over to our home in Accra to commiserate with us upon hearing of the passing of our father, Joseph Amanor Amartey of blessed memory in September 2021. It was so refreshing to see our uncle, and “our mother”, Prof. I. K. Djokoto, comforting his own children and giving us hope. We also recall that you called us on phone during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic to find out if our sister was ok, because you had just heard someone mention her name in a televised discussion as being very supportive to the Ghanaian students in South Africa amidst the chaotic situation at the time. It is said that “Nothing is ever really lost to us as long as we remember it.” These memories and many more will forever remain in our hearts and minds. God whom you have served will surely reward you for your hard work in making our lives better. Your legacy will live on in the hearts of the many people whom you have influenced on your earthly journey but most of all, in the hearts of us your children, our children and your grandchildren. Fare thee well Prof. May your soul rest in perfect peace. 28 DJOKOTOISRPREESABYTEERLINKG.OPORFF.I

A GOD-GIVEN GUARDIAN TO ME MY TRIBUTE TO PROFESSOR ISRAEL KOFI DJOKOTO! A BY: JOSEPH ADDO AMETEPEE pril 25th 2022, turned out to be the last phone conversation I would have with Professor Israel Kofi Djokoto. The last words he spoke to me in our brief conversation from his hospital bed on that fateful day were: “Enyonyoge.” It means, “It will be well.” It was spoken with such calm assurance and abiding peace. So, when I received a call later that evening from my nephew Kwesi that he had passed on, I was shocked to say the least. “It will be well.” I could not help but to ponder those words. It is as if he was saying: “It will be well with my family, friends, fellow associates, church members, even after I am no more.” I believe his message to all of us who are mourning his sudden departure from us is: “It will be well.” Yes: “It will be well,” because God does all things well for those who know and love Him, both in this life and in the life soon to come. It is in training them to be become useful citizens. the light of this hopeful message that I proceed to Just over a year after my beloved father’s (Mr. write my tribute to the late Professor Israel Kofi Mikpormda Ametepe) death, God would bless Djokoto. It is a task which is too great for me to my life with Professor Israel Kofi Djokoto. He undertake. Nevertheless, “it will be well.” The Bible says: “It is better to go to the house of would become a God-given guardian to me. mourning than to go to the house of feasting, for He assumed the primary responsibility of this is the end of all mankind, and the living will lay taking care of me and training me to become it to heart” (Ecclesiastes 7:2, ESV). I kindly implore a responsible citizen. For this, I am forever you to take to your heart what you read from this grateful. You see, my beloved father died, tribute and all the other tributes to Professor when I was in elementary school. I was yet to Djokoto. begin secondary school. Then also, university education was ahead of me. A GOD-GIVEN GUARDIAN TO ME! As a little child, I always had the ambition of furthering my education. It was an ambition In ancient Israel and Roman world, children that my father himself encouraged. But now he were placed under the care of guardians (see 1 was no more. Would my dreams of furthering Kings 10:1; Galatians 4:2). These guardians were responsible for taking care of the children and DJOKOTOISRPREESABYTEERLINKG. OPORFF.I 29

my education die with the death of my father? God Himself is the Greatest Giver the world If not, under whose care would I be to realize has ever known. He gave us the gift of His my dreams of furthering my education? God Son (John 3:16). He also gave us the gift of His would bless me with Professor I.K. Djokoto. Spirit (Galatians 4:6). Not only that, but God God would use him greatly in my life. He took also gave us the gift of salvation (Ephesians care of me all through my secondary school 2:8) and more. No one, yes, absolutely no education at Technology Secondary School one, can give as God gives. But often, God (now KNUST SHS), Prempeh College, and the blesses the world with people who reflect His University of Science and Technology (now character and nature as a Giver. KNUST). He was God’s divinely appointed guardian to me through all those years of One of those people was the late Professor my life. I thank my God for blessing me with Israel Kofi Djokoto. He gave without strings Professor Djokoto – a God-given guardian to attached. That is to say, he gave with no me from my teenage years to adulthood. special conditions or restrictions. In other words, he gave to people without asking for A GOOD HOME FOR ME! anything in return. He simply exuded the joy of giving. The Lord Jesus said: “Give, and it will Not only was he a God-given guardian to be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, me, but he also provided a good home for shaken together, running over, will be put into me to live and learn, serve, and strive to be your lap. For with the measure you use it will all that God wants me to be. I had the blessed be measured back to you” (Luke 6:38, NIV). privilege of living with his family in the good He also said, “It is more blessed to give than to home God chose for me through him for 15 receive” (Acts 20:35b, KJV). My brother-in-law years before my departure abroad to further lived a life of giving. His heart and hands were my education. The Bible says: “God makes a opened to give. He knew he would be blessed home for the lonely; He leads out the prisoners when he gave. But he also knew that those to into prosperity, only the rebellious dwell in a whom he gave would be blessed as well. parched land” (Psalm 68:6, NSB 1995). A good home in which anyone of us grows up, is a gift I vividly remember the times we would travel and blessing of God to us. Through Professor from Kumasi to Anyako our hometown for the Djokoto, God gave me this gift and blessing. Easter holidays. On the day of our departure, It’s a blessing and a gift that I have never Professor Djokoto would pull out his wallet taken for granted. You see, I didn’t deserve to from his pocket and proceed to give gifts to be brought up in such a good home. But God all three of my father’s widowed wives as in His grace and goodness to me chose to well as my father’s sons and their families bestow such an honor upon my life for which who were living in my father’s home. It was I am forever grateful. I had friends who didn’t such a delight to watch him move from one have a good home to live, learn, and grow up. person to another until all received a gift from As a result, some of them ended up on the his hand. No one was ever left out, not even wrong path in life. I know very well that I could the children. Of course, as he gave, there was have also ended up on such a path, had God a broad and beaming smile on his face. In not graciously blessed me with a good home other words, his giving was done cheerfully to live and learn, to serve and strive to become – which reminds me of the scripture: “God all that He wants me to be through Professor loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7, ESV). Djokoto. Blessed be the Lord’s name! Professor Djokoto was an excellent example of a cheerful giver whom God loves. He gave A GIVER AT HEART willingly and wholeheartedly. He gave freely and faithfully. I also remember him giving me One of the blessed memories I cherish about weekly pocket money as well as paying all my my brother-in-law is that he was a giver at school fees throughout my secondary school heart. He lived his life not so much as to get, education. He also provided me three square but to give from the wealth God had graciously meals a day! What a wonderful example of blessed him to have. Please understand that reflecting God’s heart of giving, Professor 30 DJOKOTOISRPREESABYTEERLINKG.OPORFF.I

Djokoto was! Truly, the world has lost a present world, the Bible declares: “Instruct wonderful giver, one who lived a life of giving, them to do good, to be rich in good works, to and who gave so willingly and freely with his be generous and ready to share, storing up for whole heart! Time and space would fail me to themselves the treasure of a good foundation tell how he gave so freely to my mother (when for the future, so that they may take hold of she was alive), my brothers and my sisters that which is life indeed” (1 Timothy 6:18-19, and many others in our family. NASB). In his life on earth, Professor Djokoto was generous and always ready to share from A GENEROUS PERSON AT HEART! the wealth God had blessed him to have. His generosity to me and many in our family is Not only was Professor Djokoto a giver at not only an inspiration to us, but it also left heart, but he was also a generous person at such an indelible mark on our lives. His legacy heart. Now, it’s important to note that God of generosity will be spoken of by many of us Himself is the most generous person in the for years to come! Indeed, a truly generous entire universe. No one is as generous as He person has been taken from us! is. In His great generosity, He richly poured out His Holy Spirit upon believers through A GREAT LOVER OF HIS FAMILY Jesus Christ their Savior (Titus 3:5-6). In His benevolence, He also lavished the riches of Professor Israel K. Djokoto was a great lover His grace upon us (Ephesians 1:7b-8a). But of his family. God Himself demonstrates God often chooses to display His heart of great love for His family. The Bible says: generosity through a select few. Professor “God so loved the world, that He gave His only Djokoto was one of those select few who begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall demonstrated God’s heart of generosity in not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16, his generation. He gave so generously and NASB). It also says: “But God demonstrates His willingly without expecting anything in return. own love toward us, in that while we were yet I experienced his generous giving over and sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8, NASB)! over again in my life. But the one that tops The important truth the Bible is revealing in them all was buying my air ticket from Ghana these verses about the love of God is that His to Canada on Swiss Air. This ticket cost a love is selfless and sacrificial and seeks His very fortune in those days. It was very expensive. best for sinners. My teaching assistant stipend I was receiving then would not suffice. Neither was there Professor Djokoto’s love for his family, anyone in my family who could come close including me and my siblings, was one that to paying a fraction of the ticket price for was not only selfless, but also sought his very me. But once again, God in His grace used best for us. He sacrificed his time, talents, Professor Djokoto to pay for the full price of and treasures to make sure that his family my ticket generously, graciously, willingly, and received the very best that God wants them wholeheartedly without asking me to pay to receive. He displayed his great love for even a penny back. his family through his service and sacrifice on their behalf. For love of family, he would Furthermore, what made his display of faithfully drive the children to school himself generosity so memorable was that he himself each school day that he was home. Even drove me and his wife, my sister Kate, my if he wasn’t around because of his travels siblings, and his children to the Kotoka abroad and within Ghana, he would arrange International Airport for my flight to Canada. for someone to drive them to school and pick It was his generosity that made it possible them up at the end of the school day. Serving for me to pursue my dreams of furthering my his family was a great joy for him because of education abroad. The Bible says: “He who is his great love for them. When he would come generous will be blessed, for he gives some of home from work, the children would run up to his food to the poor” (Proverbs 22:9, NASB). him, saying “Daddy! Daddy!” Before he would Speaking to believers who are rich in this touch or carry any one of them, he would wash DJOKOTOISRPREESABYTEERLINKG. OPORFF.I 31

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his hands! This simple act actually demonstrated a good day for me. Meanwhile, baby Rex was his great love that sought their very best in every pacified by his loving parents. way and in everything. Whenever, Professor Djokoto would speak His great love for his family meant you got into to me about the children God had graciously trouble when you did something bad to them given him, he would do so with great love and or something bad happened to them on your pride. Even to the very last day of his life, his watch. I vividly remember the time when Rex love for his family was undiminished. Indeed, was a toddler. Professor Djokoto raised a herd great was the love with which he loved his of goats. I was responsible for feeding them, family. Many are the memories of his loving morning, afternoon, and evening. One late nature and deeds which his family will cherish afternoon, I entered their fence to feed them. for the years to come! Rex, the toddler, also wanted to enter with me. But I knew it was not good for him. So, I shut the A GLAD-HEARTED MAN gate of the fence and told him to wait for me. But as I got busy distributing the feed for the goats, In his lifetime of four scores on earth, there Rex, my toddler nephew, managed to squeeze was no mistaking of the fact that Professor himself and crawl through a small opening under Djokoto was a glad-hearted man. When the fence. Of course, in his attempt to enter the you met him or had the privilege of being in fence, he was scratched and hurt. Rex started his presence, you knew that he was indeed crying. Unfortunately for me, Professor Djokoto a glad-hearted man. Proverbs 15:13 says: came home. And there was Rex, his son, crying “A glad heart makes a cheerful face, but by his lungs out. Of course, he was not pleased with sorrow of heart the spirit is crushed.” God me. He thought I beat Rex. But I calmly explained blessed Professor Djokoto with a glad and to him that I instructed Rex not to come into the joyful heart that beamed with a radiant and fence, but he managed to crawl through a small cheerful smile. I. K., as I affectionately called opening under it and was hurt. You see, because him, had a contagious hearty laughter. His of his great love for his family, his family was like laughter was wholesome. His whole being the apple of his eye. To touch his family was to was involved when he laughed. He was a man touch the apple of his eye and incur his wrath. of good cheer. In fact, I can hear his laughter ringing in my ears even now with such joy and There was an earlier incident with Rex when cheerfulness. Proverbs 22:17 says, “A cheerful he was just a bouncy baby boy. It happened heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit on a sunny and breezy afternoon. I carried him dries up the bones” (Proverbs 17:22). The best outside and sat in the open space between the medicine he took all his life was the gladness main house and the boys’ quarters of Number 2 and cheerfulness of heart. Independence Road. He was enjoying the fresh air and the sun as I rocked him back and forth in A GENIAL MAN my lap. But all of sudden, up above us, a creature on the roof decided to make my head its landing Professor Djokoto was a genial man. In other spot on its way to the ground. Of course, I was words, he was very hospitable. His homes at greatly startled to say the least. In my alarm and Okodee Road No. 8, and later at Independence astonishment, I suddenly let go of baby Rex and Road No. 2, where we lived, hosted many raised up my other hand to drive away the creature people, friends, and family and even that landed on my head. Lo and behold, it was a foreigners, with warmth and cheer. Writing male lizard that had landed on my head on its way to the first century believers scattered in the to the ground. (I believe that, that naughty lizard Roman Empire, Apostle Peter exhorts them: was responsible for my head being bald today.) “Be hospitable to one another without complaint” Immediately after recovering from the shock of (1 Peter 4:9, NASB). Professor Djokoto lived my life, I picked up Rex who was also shocked by out the exhortation to be hospitable to one my sudden letting go of him. He was bruised, but another without complaint. There were two not badly. Of course, he was crying his lungs out, kinds of visitors whom he hosted in his homes, drawing the attention of both parents. It was not namely those who planned their visit with his knowledge and those who just popped in out DJOKOTOISRPREESABYTEERLINKG. OPORFF.I 33

of nowhere. His heart and home were opened to mechanical engineering. He branched into new all of them. He hosted them without complaint, or related fields where he saw opportunities not sending them away. It was such a delight to to contribute his quota to the development of watch. No one who needed his hospitality was society. He successfully designed course works ever turned away. He invited all of them in and and trained lecturers for several technical schools personally served his guests, especially his white in Ghana when they were transitioning to tertiary friends from Canada, his siblings from the States education. He also became very successful in and those here at home. providing professional services for infrastructural development around the country. A profession, in A GIFTED MAN - A GREAT BLESSING which, he was still heavily invested and involved before his death. Indeed, our world has lost a God blesses us with many gifts here on earth. In truly gifted man – who was a great blessing to fact, the Bible affirms this truth. For it declares: many of us! “Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of A GREAT EXAMPLE OF A HARD WORKER lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow” (James 1:17, NASB). The Bible is simply Professor Djokoto was a great example of a saying here that everything related to God’s hard worker. He exemplified to his family what giving is adequate and beneficial. In other words, working hard at one’s trade was all about. He whatever God gives to His people is a great did not eat the bread of idleness. The scripture blessing indeed. One of God’s great blessings to says: “Whatever your hand finds do, verily, do it with the Ametepe Family was Professor Djokoto. He all your might; for there is no activity or planning or was such a gifted man and a great blessing! knowledge or wisdom in Sheol where you are going” To know him was to know a man who was (Ecclesiastes 9:10, NASB 1977). His work ethics so gifted by God. He was exceptionally gifted was off the charts. He took pride in his work as intellectually. I remember him telling me stories a lecturer and worked hard at it for many years. of his time of studying for his masters and PhD I was blessed to observe at firsthand and learn degrees in Canada. He related to me how the from his work ethics. He would rise up early and white professors who taught him thought that rework or review his teaching notes for each the course work would be too difficult for him to course he taught. He was always well prepared handle, because he came from Africa. But by the for every course he taught. Never would he give end of their course work, the professors realized less than his very best to his students. As such, that they had been wrong. They now saw him in he expected his students to also give their very a new light - as a man who was extraordinarily best when it was time for them to be tested. gifted academically. He worked hard at every task God put on his plate, whether it was a project or a presentation, He was also gifted socially. He related so warmly teaching or training his students, designing, and friendly with all classes of people; the or developing new machines, motivating or educated and uneducated, the rich and the poor, managing those who work with him! His legacy the great and the small, the old and the young. of being a great example of a hard worker will be Whether at home, at the University Senior Staff cherished by many for years to come! Club, at the classroom, at conferences, at church gatherings, at funerals, at family gatherings, Professor, you will be greatly missed, especially at the marketplace or at other meeting places; for being a giver at heart who lived a life of giving, he engaged people with great interest! He was a generous man, a gifted man, a great blessing, always at ease and engaging when he conversed a genial man, a glad hearted man, and a great with people. One of the memorable phrases he example of a hard worker. You had done your often used in his interaction with others was: “Do work well to the very end. Now you can rest from you see it?” [Ewe: “Wo ton ekpoe?”]. You would all your works. Thank you for being a God-given never be bored when you talked to him. guardian to us and for providing a good home for us to live and learn life. The Ametepe family is He was also professionally gifted. He excelled in forever grateful to you for all the blessings God his profession as a mechanical engineer. But he bestowed on us through you. May your soul rest didn’t limit his professional career to the field of in perfect peace! 34 DJOKOTOISRPREESABYTEERLINKG.OPORFF.I

was five years old when one sunny day my PROF. WAS uncle Reynolds Djokoto, Prof’s father, came for EXTRAORDINARILY me from Old Tafo Akyem Abuakwa to meet my BRILLIANT AND AN new family in Kumasi. With the ability to speak ALL-OUT GRADE “A” only the Twi language, I met for the first time my STUDENT Inew brothers and sisters. Raphael Djokoto, Kojo TRIBUTE TO A COUSIN, Djokoto, Israel Kofi Djokoto, Emmanuel (Ephraim) A BROTHER AND A MENTOR Djokoto, Charlotte Ami Djokoto, Beatrice Djokoto, BY: WILLIAM KWESI DJOKOTO Regina Djokoto, Florence Djokoto, Ebenezer Djokoto, John Djokoto, Samuel Djokoto, David Kofi Djokoto, Moses (Jervis) Djokoto and Mawutor Djokoto. The very day I met my new family, it was decided no one should speak Twi to me but to communicate with me in the Anlo language. I was registered to attend the AME Zion Primary School where Prof. Israel Kofi Djokoto attended. Prof. Israel went to Adisadel College in Cape Coast and because Prof. was extraordinarily brilliant and an all-out grade “A” student in all the subjects he studied, he paved the way for me and John to be accepted to study at Adisadel College. After secondary school, Prof. Israel Kofi Djokoto was accepted at the University of Science and Technology and I followed him to University of Science and Technology. I felt very blessed to have my elder brother at the same university. He was in Queens Hall and I was in Independence Hall. Next, Prof. Israel Djokoto went to the University of Saskatoon and he sponsored and paid for me to join him in Saskatchewan, Canada. He also arranged for me to get admission to that university. After a few months in Saskatchewan, I left to join John Djokoto in Toronto and finally migrated to the United States of America but Prof. never gave up on me. He always encouraged me and asked about my professional career whenever he called me. He was proud when I updated him of my achievements. Prof. always encouraged me to work hard. I thank Prof. Israel for accepting me as his brother. He encouraged me to believe in myself. I will forever miss my brother and mentor. May your soul rest in perfect peace. DJOKOTOISRPREESABYTEERLINKG. OPORFF.I 35

PROF. SERVED THE PRESBYTERY WITH ENERGY AND COMMITMENT. TRIBUTE IN MEMORY OF PRESBYTER PROF. ISRAEL KOFI DJOKOTO BY REV. PROF. FRANK AND REV. DR. JOSELINE FUGAR (MRS) If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. W(Romans. 14:8, NIV) e are profoundly saddened at passing of our faithful friend and brother, Prof. I. K. Djokoto. It is a feeling that is deep; we cannot fully express it in words. We have learned that in life not everybody will like you, but some will, in spite of who you are. Prof. Djokoto chose to love us, not in reciprocation for anything worthy that we had done for him or his family, but out of his volition and graciousness. Our association with Prof. started in 1991 the financial assistance we received for some when we became pastors of the E. P. Church of the congregations under our jurisdiction. of Ghana, now the Global Evangelical Church and were assigned some congregations in the Prof.’s love for us became more manifest West Volta North Presbytery. At that time, he when we became Chairmen of the Kumasi was actively involved in the Church as the Clerk Presbytery. He was genuinely happy for us of the Presbytery. Our relationship with him and he and his wife actually became our began to grow as we worked together against cheerleaders. We saw it, we heard it, we several odds to build a strong Presbytery. touched, we smelt it, and we felt it. Prof. was a very generous man. He was ready and willing to provide financial support to our congregations. We remember when our congregation at Atonsu needed money urgently to purchase land for their permanent place of worship, we approached Prof. for help, and he did help us. This is just an example of 36 DJOKOTOISRPREESABYTEERLINKG.OPORFF.I

His support for us from 2013 to 2018 when Frank was the Presbytery Chairman and from 2018 when Joseline became the Chairman to the time of his passing was simply overwhelming and unparalleled. In 2016, Prof. and his dear wife Kate noticed that our ordination gowns had become old and not befitting for their Presbytery Chairman and his wife. So, they decided to sew for us new preaching gowns. Prof. served the Presbytery with energy and commitment. Prof and his wife were at our beck and call. They were ready to do anything for us and go anywhere we send them. Prof., we know you loved us. The Covid pandemic period provided us our endearing moments with you when you would pass by our house fully masked just to find out how we were doing. Even though mobility was becoming difficult for you, you still passed by from the hospital. Sometimes you came just to deliver loaves of bread to us or just stop over from the hospital to chat with us. Prof. we will miss our car side conversations. Thank you, Prof. for Christmas gifts. Thank you for being one of our greatest cheerleaders in the Presbytery. Thank you for all the support you gave us so we could succeed in our leadership roles. Thank you for making sure that our house did not lack bread. Thank you for believing in us and supporting us. You were always wishing us the best. We wish you had waited a little longer so to see the crowning of your labour through us in the Presbytery this year. Fare thee well Prof. Fare thee well. You will be greatly missed in the Fugar household. Till we meet again and in the words of Rhonda Braswell, “Each time we see your picture you seem to smile and say ‘Don’t cry, I’m in God’s keeping. We’ll meet again someday.” Yes, we will! Hedenyuie. Dzudzo le nutifafa me. DJOKOTOISRPREESABYTEERLINKG. OPORFF.I 37

A TRUE Prof I.K, meeting you in this life was not FRIEND accidental but indeed providential. IS NEVER TRULY You demonstrated your love as a true GONE friend and while I stand mourning before your lifeless body, let me bid you farewell A TRIBUTE BY REV. S. K. O. ATTU with these few poetic words: A FAMILY FRIEND AND PASTOR “From the day that I first knew you, Your heart was pure and kind; Your smile was sweet and innocent The sparkle in your eyes was keen, Soft words were your virtue, And humor your appeal Your friendship fast and real Thank you for being there and true” The thought of never seeing you again brings me to tears but what God has planned oftentimes is not meant for us to understand. You inspired and supported me to realize my aspirations; and so my life was really blessed through our friendship. How can I forget the good times we had together or how you initiated and mobilized other well-wishers to support me and my family during our stay at Amakom? I will miss our lovely conversations, the laughter and the shared concerns of life but I am comforted by the fact that you are now at a better p “A true friend is never truly gone. Their spirit lives on in the memories of those who loved them.” As long as we have life I remain a friend and a pastor to the family. Prof, your memories live on and by your good works may you find blessings in the next life. Rest well Dear Friend till we meet again. Fare thee well. 38 DJOKOTOISRPREESABYTEERLINKG.OPORFF.I

EULOGY IN HONOUR OF THE LATE PRESBYTER PROFESSOR I.K. DJOKOTO BY REUBEN AND FAVOUR EGBEZUALE, G.E.C. GLORY CHAPEL, AMAKOM PARISH “Those who are wise will shine like the church making the various mandates of his brightness of the heavens; and those who led successors of which I was one of them very easy and adaptable. Tmany to righteousness, like the stars forever Prof. Djokoto loved giving assistance to all and ever”. (Daniel 12:3) manner of people. One notable support we had from him and his spouse was during he gentle late afternoon breeze of our marriage blessing ceremony in 1996 Monday, 25th April, 2022 carried along when my fiancée and I visited the couple to with it a voice of melancholy as it was formally inform them about the ceremony. announced that Presbyter Professor In his expressing of excitement he wanted to Israel K. Djokoto who we have known know how they could support. Sadly, we were for more than four and half decades has scared of asking anything but Prof. Djokoto been called to his everlasting home. quoting the Scripture in Psalms 81:10 in which God entreated His children to open I met Prof. I.K. Djokoto in the then E.P. their mouth wide so that He the Lord will fill it, Church, Amakom Parish but got the ‘better part he and his wife supported us with something of him’ when I was appointed a member of the which after all was really very needful. 1986 Harvest Committee of the Church. He was the Vice-Chairman and I was the Assistant For us, this was adequate to hoist the man Secretary. I realized Prof was a devoted Christian Presbyter Prof. Djokoto and his wonderful Elder worthy of commendation and emulation. wife Presbyter Mrs. Celestine Kate Djokoto He was a mentor and one who had deep passion to a high level as servants who loved God and for precision, accountability and professionalism His dictates and wore a distinguished badge in all facets of the administration of the church. of dedicated stewards. These virtues he instilled in the administration of the Committee and no wonder at the end of Prof., we say ‘AKPE, AKPE, AKPE NAWO’. We the Harvest celebration the Church for the first pray your sacrifices on earth would continue time in its History far exceeded its set financial to shine like the stars forever and ever and the target. Lord’s rewards to His faithful and dedicated servants should not elude you on that ‘Blessed Prof. Djokoto was the Session Secretary during Day’. Sleep well and take your deserved rest in the stormy period of the E.P. Church of Ghana, the arms of your maker. Amakom Parish which later became known as the Global Evangelical Church. He continued to inculcate this high level of qualities into the DJOKOTOISRPREESABYTEERLINKG. OPORFF.I 39

AND HE CALLED ME “AFENOR BOBOBEE.” TRIBUTE BY MRS. CHRISTIE ESI BOBOBEE, (FORMER FEMALE SYNOD COMMITTEE EXECUTIVE MEMBER) TO THE MEMORY OF THE LATE PRESBYTER PROFESSOR ING. I.K. DJOKOTO [1941 - 2022]. T“But our God is in the heavens: He hath done Building Committee. He and a few others were already serving on the Committee. Members of that whatsoever He hath pleased” (Psalm 115:3, KJV) Building Committee were eminent and dedicated members of the church. I remember Presbyters Mr. his Eulogy is in honour of the late Presbyter Johnson Dzameshie, Dr. V.K. Kpodo, the late Dr. C.S.K. Prof. I. K. Djokoto who was affectionately Kpordze, and of course, Professor Djokoto amongst called Prof. I.K and he called me “Afenor others. At the time, as the only female and as young Bobobee.” as I was, these senior members decided to appoint me the chairperson of the committee. And that was As a student in UST, as it was then known, how I worked very closely with each of them till I left students from my Department, Land in 2006 to take the office as the Synod Committee Economy, took some elective courses at Female Representative for the Kumasi Presbytery. the Agric Faculty. The Agric Engineering I really enjoyed their company, cooperation, and Department then had a workshop within the Agric mentorship. Since then, we have had a very close Faculty Building. One day, a few of us lost our way personal relationship that has lasted this long. and encountered a lecturer who we later got to know was called Dr. I. K. Djokoto. He asked us why we were Prof. was the one responsible for the social services, loitering, and we explained that we were going for water, and sanitation roles on the committee. Those our elective course. He directed us to the appropriate who know the history of the Amakom Chapel will lecture hall and that was the closest I got to him as remember how bad the grounds were. So, it took a a student. lot of hard work on the part of the late Prof. Djokoto for us to get the appropriate water and sanitation In the latter part of the 1980s, my husband joined the and social services installed as they are now. Thank Department of Agricultural Engineering as a Lecturer you for your dedicated services. and Prof. Djokoto became the Head of Department for quite some time. So that relationship brought us Prof. Djokoto became unwell as he advanced in age. closer. My husband and I joined the then E.P Church of The day before Good Friday 2022, I visited him at Ghana, now Global Evangelical Church at our Parish in home as usual, and as he always did, he welcomed Amakom where we worshiped. I met Prof over there me with a hearty smile and the usual “Afenor as well, as a Presbyter serving on the church session Bobobee woezor.” The two of us had our little chit and this time, we became working colleagues when chats as we often had whenever we met, sharing I was appointed to serve on the Amakom Church news about the progress of the church as a former Synod Committee member himself. I prayed with 40 DJOKOTOISRPREESABYTEERLINKG.OPORFF.I him, wishing him well and hoping to see him after Easter. But that was not to be. Prof. Djokoto passed on to eternity not long after that encounter. What can we do? Psalm 115:3 says it all. But we can thank God for a life well lived and pray that the Lord will receive him in His bosom and give him rest. We believe that our partner in the Lord’s vineyard has gone to sleep in the Lord, Adieu! Rest well, worthy soldier of the Cross. Fare thee well Prof., you have played your part. Prof I.K. Djokoto, may the Lord reward you for all your good deeds. Amen.

INDEED A COLOSSUS OF A GREAT ENGINEERING TREE HAS HAS GONE ‘HOME’ FALLEN TRIBUTE BY KOSI DARGBEY, TRIBUTE BY HARRIET FORMER STUDENT IACQUAAH IN HONOUR OF You ‘cemented’ my interest in engineering the very first day I stepped into your ME155 (Strength of Materials I) class.  PROF. I.K DJOKOTO Prof, you were one of the best brains in Mechanical Engineering. NDEED A GREAT TREE HAS FALLEN The ease and confidence, coupled with the deep knowledge of content with which you taught us Strength of Materials I and About the time I was going to bed II was admirable.  last night, I saw the unfortunate news of your passing, Prof. To date my colleagues, most of whom have become lifetime friends still talk about the stories that you told us. The almighty It was just last week I was thinking APLANKE story has become names amongst some of us.  about you and your stories you used to share in the Strength of Materials Prof, yours was a gift. You practiced engineering to the highest class. Who can forget the APLANKE level before deciding to come to the classroom. The aura and story to illustrate the forces acting on passion with which you delivered your lectures were indicative an object on a slope? So funny a story I of the fact that you were not just doing a job. You wanted to still use that term till today lol. And who develop the next generation of GREAT Engineers who could can forget your adoration for your wife emulate you when the sun finally sets for you. You did not when you said, “I hear in Heaven there just deliver mind-blowing lectures to us, but you optimised is no marriage, if that is so then I don’t every opportunity at the time to shape us into professional want to go there”. engineers.  Prof., you made Strength of Materials You are a few of those lecturers whose class one would not an enjoyable course to study. In my 3rd deliberately miss. I vividly remember how you encouraged year going to final year in Mechanical us to take Strength of Materials seriously since it was a huge Engineering, I was torn between avenue for us to make some extra cash. Ironically, while in a choosing Strength of Materials, and meeting today, you came to mind because I was speaking on a Design and Production as my specialty concept you taught us. Little did I know that you were already course but I eventually chose the latter. gone.  Thanks so much for the service you Prof, indeed yours was a life well lived. You have contributed rendered. The passion with which you your quota to humanity. Many of your students you imbibed executed your profession and the many great knowledge and values into are in different parts of the lives you touched. Indeed, it is a life well world generating solutions in diverse ways to humanity. As lived. you journey home, you must smile on the way.  Journey well Professor Djokoto. May You deserve the best accolade for what you have done to God continue to direct your steps. many of us. Inasmuch as we wish you could stay a bit longer; we are equally consoled by the fact that you have played your Adieu part and you must take a well-deserved rest.  On this day, I join your numerous students across the globe to say a thank you for what you have given us. May God Almighty and the angels welcome you and offer you a place deserving of the contributions you did while on earth. By this, I also thank your family for sharing you with us.  Have a peaceful rest Professor Djokoto!! DJOKOTOISRPREESABYTEERLINKG. OPORFF.I 41

I SALUTE YOU THIS DAY PROF... TRIBUTE BY ING. DUMEGA GODWIN KOFI AGBLEZE TO THE LATED PROFESSOR ISRAEL KOFI DJOKOTO “No one is actually dead until the ripples Mechanical Engineering. He was awarded a First Class, which automatically made him a Ithey cause in the world die away.” (Sir prospective doctoral student. He went on to lecture and became a professor and ended up Terence David John Pratchett) lecturing in his Alma Mater. first met Professor Israel Djokoto at Israel was very brilliant all round and most Adisadel College, Cape Coast in 1957 when of us looked up to him especially in our we all went to Form 1. academics. In sports, he displayed a lot of talent and even in swimming competitions at As was the norm in the school, there was the University, he was better than most of us a roll-call of all Form 1 students. During from the coast. the roll call, I heard the name Djokoto mentioned. The name struck me because During our school days, we had a lot of fun I knew that the Djokoto family was from as young boys though he was not keen Anyako. So, thinking he was also from Anyako, on socializing. His books were mainly his I approached him after the roll call to check if companion. No doubt he ended up as a he was indeed from there. Being new in the professor and as God will have it, ended up school, I was happy that somebody from imparting all that knowledge to the next my hometown was also in the school. Well, generation. But, alas, this is where he ends indeed he knew his roots were from there but his duty on earth. he grew up in Kumasi. As one writer puts it, if Prof. asked the Well, despite the disappointment, this served question “Who will sing my name?,” it can as an excellent icebreaker and our friendship confidently be said that his works will sing began from there and lasted throughout our his praise. He has multiplied himself, leaving a lives till his passing away. gigantic legacy, spreading far into the spaces of our blessed land. He has left people behind We were in the same class throughout our to tell the tale. His works will follow him, and secondary school days. He was so brilliant he his ashes will spray a blessing on the land of even came first in Ewe language though he his birth. did not study it in elementary school. I must confess that he pulled me along through our I salute you this day Prof. as you gallantly bow secondary schooling as he became my study out of this life to be with your maker. I borrow partner. He encouraged and helped me to the words in 2 Timothy 4:7-8 “You have fought study and pass every exam. the good fight, you have finished the race, you have kept the faith.  Now there is in store for When we completed secondary school, you the crown of righteousness, which the we both opted to go to the University of Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to you.” Science and Technology in Kumasi to read Mechanical Engineering. We therefore ended Farewell Prof. and may the Almighty God keep up in the same class again at the University. you safe in his bosom. We graduated together with degrees in 42 DJOKOTOISRPREESABYTEERLINKG.OPORFF.I

TO THE ENTIRE FAMILY, WE SAY ‘BABAA NA MI’ FOR THE GREAT LOSS OF SUCH A DEDICATED ELDER. TRIBUTE BY GLOBAL EVANGELICAL CHURCH KUMASI PRESBYTERS’ ASSOCIATION TO OUR MEMBER THE LATE PRESBYTER PROFESSOR I.K. DJOKOTO “Sleep on, beloved sleep and take thy rest, Prof. Djokoto was not very regular at our lay down thy head upon thy Saviour’s breast, programmes due to his busy schedule and lately his health challenges, we are greatly Twe love thee well but Jesus loves thee best.” inspired by the tremendous and sacrificial services he rendered as a Presbyter to the GEC, ENGLISH HYMNAL 184:1: Church in the Kumasi Metro congregations, the Presbytery and the National Headquarters. he late Presbyter Professor Israel K. Djokoto was a Presbyter in Amakom During his period of illness, the Executives of Parish, Glory Chapel of the Global the Association visited him and supported Evangelical Church and a member of the family with prayers for the Lord’s the Kumasi Presbytery Presbyters’ intervention. Therefore, the news of his home Association. It is an Association of call that fateful Monday, 25th April, 2022 was consecrated Presbyters of the Global received with mixed feeling. We realized the Evangelical Church. Lord has answered our prayers nevertheless in a ‘different manner’ yet we give Him glory The Association seeks among other for what He has done. As an Association of things the spiritual, physical and social Leaders, we will continue to draw lessons wellbeing of members by creating forums from the late Presbyter Prof. Djokoto’s sterling for Presbyters to enhance their personal qualities for the realization of our objectives growth and development so as to fulfill and for the growth of the Kingdom of God. their responsibilities as enshrined in the Constitution of the Global Evangelical Church. We console our dear mother and member Members are imparted to assist Pastors in Presbyter Mrs. Celestine Kate Djokoto as well the discharge of their respective duties in the as the children; some of whom are playing various congregations and provide doctrinal several dedicated roles in the Church. We leadership and entrenchment of the Core appreciate their commitment to ensuring that Values of the Church in them. The Association their father received the needed medical and also mobilizes support for members in good spiritual attention and all necessary care as a times and challenging times and furthermore husband and father. To the entire family, we provide platform for members to socialize say ‘BABAA NA MI’ for the great loss of such a among themselves. dedicated elder. As it is a policy of the Church that every Our dear Presbyter Prof, Israel Kofi Djokoto we Presbyter joins the Association, Presbyter bid you farewell in your journey in response to Prof. Djokoto and his spouse Presbyter Mrs. your call for a HIGHER SERVICE with the Lord. Kate Djokoto availed themselves of this Prof, rest peacefully in the bosom of the Lord. requirement and became members far back in the year 2012 when the Association was in its early beginning. Though Presbyter DJOKOTOISRPREESABYTEERLINKG. OPORFF.I 43

I CAN CONFIDENTLY SAY I TOOK A DIFFERENT TRAJECTORY IN LIFE FOR THE BETTER BECAUSE OF MY ENCOUNTER WITH PROF. TRIBUTE BY EVANS SORDIASHIE Today I would like to pay tribute to a great man in his ME 255 Strength of Materials Class in and a mentor, Professor Djokoto. Although I 2001. If you are a Mechanical Engineering wished this gathering was my final return to student, you know Strength of Materials is a the country to honour him in his presence course you’re likely going to take to the end instead of his funeral, we all know life isn’t fair of your engineering program. So, I was stuck sometimes. To his family, I believe he was a with him till the end of my program. Strength great Husband, Father, Uncle, and Granddad. of Materials was not an easy course, but it To others, I believe he was a great man and takes a person like Prof. to break it down to a friend. be easily digested by the mind. Occasionally, when a particular topic is not easy to pick up, Professor Djokoto was my professor at Prof. will tell us a joke to lighten our moods. A Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and favourite one of all time was about a friend of Technology. My first contact with him was his who likes vodka so much, he (the friend) wished he had a long throat to enjoy it a bit longer. If you’re Mechanical Engineering 2004-year group and don’t recall this joke, chances are you missed class that day. I’m sorry you missed out! After my national service as a Teaching Assistant in the Mechanical Engineering Department, Prof. Djokoto hired me as his Assistant Engineer for his Building Services Engineering Firm (Sonic Engineering Services). That was an amazing adventure for me. He trained me very well to take on the design challenges of the building services. We were a two-man company at the time and I have never seen someone work so hard as Prof. We worked on the majority of the construction projects on the KNUST Campus from 2004 through 2007. One of my favourite projects 44 DJOKOTOISRPREESABYTEERLINKG.OPORFF.I

on the KNUST campus is the Campus Museum. Occasionally, at project site meetings when Prof was unavailable, the project team members will inform concerned members not to worry because Prof’s son is here (and that was me). We also worked on some nationwide (Ghana) projects. The immediate one that rings a bell is the Electoral Commission offices across the country. Although I believe we were a great team at Sonic Engineering then, Prof. still encouraged me to further my education before it was too late. I left for the United States of America to further my education in 2007. As if he was a second father to me, Prof. was still guiding and mentoring me through my program. After completion, I decided to take a second graduate degree in Building Services (aka Architectural Engineering in the US) with his guidance. With all the knowledge I learnt from him, I was able to sail through the program with ease and have been practicing professionally in the United States of America for some time now. You know, some come to the university to experience the environment. Others also show up because it’s a family duty. But few show up because they dare to dream and just need a master to lead them into the rabbit hole. Hopefully, if it’s your turn to dream, the master at the gate to the rabbit hole will be a Prof. Djokoto kind. I eventually visited with my family in 2019. I tried to meet with Prof. but the circumstances would not allow it. However, to my surprise, Prof. still managed to meet with me at the Kumasi Airport at the last minute to say hello before my return. I can confidently say I took a different trajectory in life for the better because of my encounter with Prof. after school. I can’t thank him enough. My sincere condolences to his family. He was an amazing man and hence a great loss to the family, friends, and a mentee like me. I hope the enthusiasm of the youth to understudy the great professors of our times will be that of Prof’s friend who wished he had a long throat to enjoy his vodka a bit longer. Put differently, that the youth of today will be enthused about learning a lot from the great professors of the now. To me, Prof. is done with his job on planet Earth and I believe he made it a little bit better than he came to find it. I am sure countless people will say the same. Thank you very much Professor Djokoto. May you rest in perfect peace. DJOKOTOISRPREESABYTEERLINKG. OPORFF.I 45

A PEOPLE We spend our lives building; PERSON, building ourselves, passions ALWAYS and beliefs. We do this not only WILLING TO for ourselves, but for those HELP AND dear to us. TEACH. Prof. Djokoto was such a man, TRIBUTE TO PROF I. K. DJOKOTO a BUILDER. He built himself by training to BY MICHAEL SEGBEFIA – EMPLOYEE the highest level educationally. He built his family and led them to be their very best. Fathering not only his children, but us too. He built a robust career and profession breaking across many fields and being a pacesetter. From a lecturer, to a mechanical engineer, then to a leading building services engineer. He never stopped building and developing, ultimately establishing “Sonic Engineering Services”. Prof. I. K. Djokoto never walked alone, not because he couldn’t. But because he never wanted to stand alone at the top. And the top he did reach. He trained and mentored all who came to him, even going beyond to find talent. “Young man, I’m not running this office because I need money, but because I have a lot to teach”, that is what he used to say to us. He was not just a boss but also a mentor, teacher and father to all who came under his care, of which I am a part of. He had an impact on my life in multiple ways, pushing me to be the best and striving for excellence. Prof. Djokoto was a people person, always willing to help and teach. We will forever be grateful for all the love, lessons and help you have given us Prof. Even though you have come to the end of your earthly journey your legacy will live on forever. Prof., may you rest in perfect peace. 46 DJOKOTOISRPREESABYTEERLINKG.OPORFF.I

YOU WERE A GIVER AT HEART. TRIBUTE BY CATECHIST VUVOR (RTD) TO THE LATE PRESBYTER PROFESSOR I.K. DJOKOTO “Beloved let us love one another for love is You were a giver at heart. I remember every born of God and everyone who loves is born Christmas, how you and your wife stocked my house with food. Prof., you were my counsellor of God and knows God” and guardian. (1 John 4:7) Words cannot describe my sorrow and pain. It is difficult to put in words how I feel about Your demise is a shock to me. Even though your demise. It is hard for me to understand I was aware of your ill-health, I trusted God the fact that I and my family will never see to heal you but alas, His thoughts are not our or hear from you again. thoughts neither are his ways our ways. God’s ways are always best. Oh “Prof”, as I affectionately called you; a strong pillar for both the young and old is Thank you for what you did for me and my no more. A big tree has fallen. family. Take your rest faithful steward. It is really hard for me and I just do not Prof, hede nyuie. Do gbe loloto menyo hede o! know how to put it in words. Prof, when I Adieu. joined Session as a Catechist, you were the Au revoir. Session Secretary. I felt shy to talk at Session meetings. After the close of meetings, you always approached me and said “Oh Caty, say something to record in the Session minutes”. I would laugh and be on my way. You took it upon yourself to encourage me until I became bold and confident enough to talk at Session meetings. You were a perfect gentleman, and a loving and caring personality. On Sundays when you did not see me in choir robe, you always asked your wife ‘Where is Caty Vuvor? Call her for me”. When your wife called and gave you the phone, the first words I would hear from you was ‘Where are you?’. DJOKOTOISRPREESABYTEERLINKG. OPORFF.I 47

THERE GOES ANOTHER PIONEERING LEADER OF AMAKOM TO ETERNITY! TRIBUTE BY GLOBAL EVANGELICAL CHURCH, GLORY CHAPEL, AMAKOM PARISH IN MEMORY OF THE LATE PRESBYTER PROFESSOR ISRAEL KOFI DJOKOTO “For we know that if the tent that is our ministry among several campus fellowships. earthly home is destroyed, we have a He fellowshipped with the Amakom Parish building from God, a house not made with during vacations until his graduation when he hands, eternal in the heavens” – became a full member of this Parish. 2 Corinthians 5:1, (ESV). His services as a Presbyter Prologue: Alas! There goes another pioneering leader of Amakom to eternity! The departure By reason of Prof Djokoto’s Christian maturity, of loved ones from this earth causes us it was not long for the church to identify his sadness and anguish because it is a difficult talents and integrate him into leadership. His thing to miss them in our lives. However, the leadership abilities, and dedication culminated word of God reminds and encourages us that in his election and consecration as Presbyter in these events we should rather have hope! and Session member in 1985. Soon, he For it is better to spend a day with the Lord was elected as the Session Secretary and a than a thousand years on earth. This word member of the Session Executive as well as of hope becomes more assuring when the the Finance Committee. deceased was a committed Christian. For such a person has been translated from the He was the secretary of the Church Session realm of humans to God’s own bosom. before the split occurred in the E. P. Church. He was very helpful in averting police harassment Commencement of his Christian journey and of the leadership of the church during the Coming to the GEC Amakom Parish split. He was part of the Church delegation to Nungua meeting where the declaration of The late, Presbyter Professor Israel Djokoto, the autonomy of the E. P. Church of Ghana had a long Christian witness and a very fruitful was made. He worked together with the membership of the Global Evangelical Church, late Mr. Sebastian Torsu, Presbyter Johnson Glory Chapel, Amakom Parish spanning over Dzameshie and others to secure a place five and a half decades. The Church was then of worship for the E. P. Church of Ghana at known as E.P. Church, Amakom Parish. His Dzokotokordzi; the hall belonging to the initial Christian journey started at Adisadel Anyako Union as a temporary place of worship College, an Anglican Institution in Cape Coast, for the Amakom congregation when the then where he gave his life to Christ, baptised chapel was locked, and the congregation had and ‘confirmed in the faith. After Adisadel no place of worship. College, as a student at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in When Prof Israel Dzokoto returned from study Kumasi, he became a student Christian leave abroad in 1979/80, he immediately leader. There he continued his Christian became a patron of the C.Y.B. group in 48 DJOKOTOISRPREESABYTEERLINKG.OPORFF.I

the Church and supported to the group in taking major decisions in the Church—once a many ways especially in evangelism and Presbyter, always a Presbyter. He held several church planting. He was instrumental in the high positions in the Church. establishment of the New Dorma branch of the church in the then Brong Ahafo Region. Some of the positions he held were: Prof. played a pivotal role in securing the land for the Global Evangelical Church in Sunyani. • Clerk of the then West Volta North Presbytery of the E.P. Church of Ghana Other Services (now Kumasi Presbytery) (a position usually held by the clergy). Presbyter Prof Djokoto used his intelligence, talents, and expertise as an Engineer to • Synod Committee Member representing assist in various infrastructural development the Kumasi Presbytery projects of the Church. He was a very generous giver and donated large sums of money • National Patron of the Christian Youth towards the construction and acquisition of Builders (CYB) notable assets of the Church. Presbyter Prof Djokoto’s knack for orderliness, precision, • In Amakom Parish and professionalism in every sphere of the • A delegate to Presbytery Conferences church’s administration was phenomenal. He loved doing good to all manner of persons and Synod especially those from the ‘family of God.’ His • Chairman, Harvest Committee dedication was not limited to the Amakom • A member, Building Committee Parish. He extended the same gesture to the • The First Chairman of Transport Kumasi Presbytery as well as to the entire denomination through the Church’s Head Management Committee Office. By dint of hard work and dedication • Member, Marriage Counselling and to service, he completed his five maximum terms of office as a Session member in 2011. Guidance Committee Even after this period, he was still very keen • Patron of CYB, Amakom on contributing his quota when it came to • Prof., even in his days of ill-health, was available as marriage counsellor and died playing this role. DJOKOTOISRPREESABYTEERLINKG. OPORFF.I 49

His Commitment and Generosity His Resilience: Many of us expected him to remain and relax at home so that the One thing that stands conspicuously in the congregation could serve him but surprisingly annals of this denomination’s history was the and to the glory of God, Presbyter Prof Djokoto role he played with others in the struggle for came to church most Sundays and sat quietly a spirit-led church. In brief, in the year 1991, a at his usual corner at the Presbyters’ sitting split occurred in the Evangelical Presbyterian area. He was so resilient that, he was able Church. The flames of this split ignited in to attend some church events outside the the Amakom Parish, went ablaze spreading Amakom Parish. nationwide and across borders to everywhere the E.P Church existed at the time. Presbyter His Home Call: When he became confined to Prof. Djokoto was one of the leaders who his home and often admitted to the hospital, stood-in for the Global Evangelical Church and our pastor and session members and indeed, for that matter the Amakom Parish in the law the whole parish prayed for him fervently. In Courts during the long period of litigation. In addition, the pastor and elders visited him this, he and his other colleagues counted it ‘all from time to time to encourage him. We had joy’ to have suffered a little for the right cause hoped that he would fully recover, and his life and, of course, for the Kingdom of God. prolonged a little. The news of his demise that Monday, April 25, 2022, was least expected. Prof I. K. Djokoto was a lover of choral music. However, we give God the glory for what He He and his wife loved the Church Choirs. He has done. We hereby celebrate a life well lived. was a regular financier of the Church Choir, the Great Choir, and the Good News Choir. The Our Consolation Amakom Parish has a young Brass band. This We console as well as appreciate our dear band is a brainchild of Prof I. K. Djokoto, as he mother and Presbyter, the widow, Mrs acquired the current set of wind instruments Celestine Kate Djokoto, and the children and drums single-handedly for the Parish. for ensuring that their loving husband and Prof Djokoto also supported many Pastors father received the best medical and spiritual financially. Many Pastors within and outside attention possible. But the Lord wanted him the Kumasi Presbytery can attest to this fact. home. We can only say, “The Lord gave, the Lord Although age was catching up with him, he has taken. Blessed be the name of the Lord”. It was generally strong until his health started is our earnest prayer that the Lord Himself failing. comforts them through all the changing scenes of life. May his children be inspired and His Health Challenges: Over the last two or strengthened by this good example of their so years, Presbyter Prof Djokoto began to father to continue to emulate his faith and attend hospital more frequently owing to service to the Church and society. health challenges. He had occasional bouts of pain, but he recovered and started coming to Epilogue: Presbyter Prof Israel Kofi Djokoto, church, though not in his usual energy. He was the Amakom Parish, Glory Chapel, bids you mentally astute and could still speak forcefully farewell and peaceful rest in the bosom of about matters he felt strongly about. He the Lord. May your maker’s call to you for a continued to contribute financially to God’s ‘higher service’ with Him give you peace and work, especially when our parish Pastor was rest till we meet again. being evicted from the rented house and the church needed financial help to partially Miaƒe Hamemega tsitsi ŋutefewɔla complete the manse for the Parish Pastor to dzudzɔ le ŋutifafa me! move into. We recall that Prof Djokoto was the one who gave us the top-up we needed to bring the work to a habitable stage. 50 DJOKOTOISRPREESABYTEERLINKG.OPORFF.I