John Kodwo Amissah (27 November 1922 – 22 September 1991)[1] was a Ghanaian prelate of the Catholic Church who served as Archbishop of Cape Coast from 1959 until his death.
Life and ministry
Born in Elmina, he was ordained to the priesthood on 11 December 1949. His thesis at St. Peter's College in Rome was on a comparison between canon law and the native customs of marriage.
On 7 March 1957, Amissah was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Cape Coast and Titular Bishop of Bencenna, receiving his episcopal consecration on the following 16 June from Archbishop William Thomas Porter, SMA. Amissah replaced Porter as Archbishop of Cape Coast on 19 December 1959.
During the late 1950s, he also studied the native and controversial custom of pouring libations on important occasions. Amissah explained that before Church leaders determine if this practice is good or bad, they must understand what villagers intend when they pour a libation.[2]
Death and legacy
He died at age 68 in a car accident heading to a parish visit, and is buried at the St. Francis de Sales Cathedral in Cape Coast, Ghana.[1][3][4]
References
- 1.[1.2]"Amissah, John Kodwo". Who Was Who in America, 1993–1996, vol. 11. New Providence, N.J.: Marquis Who's Who. 1996. p. 5. ISBN 0837902258.
- 2."Don't downplay libation at state functions – Archbishop Sarpong". Modern Ghana. Retrieved 2026-03-28.
- 3."Ghana: We Need More Selfless People to Lead our Nation, Archbishop Says". Catholic Information Service for Africa. September 23, 2016. Retrieved September 1, 2025.
- 4."Missing Reference and citation". 2018-06-24. doi:10.5194/os-2017-86-sc1.