Ghana’s political landscape was marked by extreme turmoil in 1979, with three Heads of State and multiple coups, including a successful military takeover.
Rev Father Andrew Campbell, a Scottish Catholic priest who arrived in Ghana in 1971, experienced this tumultuous period firsthand.
In an interview with journalist Kafui Dey on the HistoryTime programme, Father Campbell shared his recollections of the events that unfolded in 1979, his eighth year in Ghana.
Father Campbell’s visits to prisons during this time left a lasting impression on him. He met many individuals, including the revered Bantamahene, chief of the Ashanti Kingdom, who was imprisoned by the military dictatorship.
The chief would often attend Father Campbell’s Wednesday masses, praying fervently for release from the “bloody dungeon.”
Father Campbell also shared football results from the English league with the political prisoners, who were educated in England and eager for news from home.
The prisoners came to appreciate Father Campbell’s kindness and compassion, which included providing hot meals every Saturday and supporting their families’ financial needs.
Even after their release, many would return to the Sacred Heart Parish on Sundays to express their gratitude, a testament to the enduring impact of Father Campbell’s ministry during a time of great political upheaval in Ghana.
