By Hassan Osman Kargbo

The death of the Archbishop Emeritus Revered Joseph Henry Ganda of the Archdiocese of Freetown and Bo, has been viewed by Sierra Leoneans and friends of the country, the world over as not just a lost to Catholics, but a huge lost to the Christian community as a whole.

His death was made public via an obituary announcement dated on 9 August 2023, signed by Rev. Edward Tamba Charles of the Archdiocese of Freetown.

‘With deep sadness I announce the death of the archbishop emeritus, most Rev. Joseph Henry Ganda, which sad event took place at 6 am 9 August 2023, Choithram Hospital, Hill Station, Freetown.

The first ever Sierra Leonean Catholic Bishop had been critically ill in the last few months, the notice stated.

The late Rev. Joseph Henry Ganda was born on 7 March 1932, in Serabu, Bo Distract, Southern Sierra Leone.

Bishop Henry Ganda was the first in his area to study for the priesthood and completed his seminary in Enugu State, Nigeria in 1955 returning home a Deacon.

On the 9 April 1961 he was ordained as the first Priest of Sierra Leone.

Late Bishop Ganda was the first Catholic Bishop of the Diocese of Kenema in the Eastern Province of Sierra Leone in 1971.

He was installed as the first native born archbishop of the Archdiocese of Freetown, 23 November 1980.

During his tenure as Archbishop, Rev. Ganda oversaw the construction of the St. Paul Cathedral in Kenema and   St. Paul’s Seminary in Regent, Freetown.

He is also credited for encouraging young people to join the service of the Catholic Church, either as priests or as nuns.

He retired 2 March 2007, after almost thirty-six years of Catholic ministry and replaced as Archbishop by Edward Tamba Charles of Freetown.

It is often being said that we are all going to leave our mark on the hearts of those who knew us when we exited in this world, but the late Rev. Ganda’s case is different because the late Bishop was well known by not just the Christian community but also Sierra Leone as a whole. He has gone but never to be forgotten.

May his gentle soul continue to rest in God’s bosom.