Francis Anani Kofi Lodonu

Francis A. K. Lodonu was born at Gbi-Atabu (Hohoe), Volta Region on 19th November 1937. He is the twelfth child of Emmanuel Koku Allala-Lodonu of Gbi-Atabu and Akosua Lodonu (née Tenge) of Alavanyo Agorxoe. Teacher Catechist Emmanuel Lodonu was one of the distinguished catechists who held the fort when the German Missionaries were deported. He was awarded the Papal Medal “Bene Merente” in 1955.

Education

Francis Anani Kofi grew up at Gbi Atabu, which is about three kilometers from Hohoe. He attended elementary school at Gbi-Atabu Roman Catholic School from 1944 to 1947. He attended the Roman Catholic Boys School at Gbi Bla from Class 5 up to Class 6 from 1948-1949. and from 1950-1953 he attended the R.C Boys Middle School, Form 1 – 4 also at Gbi Bla.

Lodonu was awarded a prize for Religious Knowledge in the Keta Diocesan Middle Schools Examination in 1953.

He had his Secondary School Education at Bishop Herman College Kpando from 1954 to 1957.

He attended St. Peter’s Regional Seminary, Cape Coast from 1958 to 1964 where he studied Philosophy and Theology.

Lodonu was ordained Priest on 18th May 1964 at Gbi Atabu by Bishop Anthony Konings who also baptized him in December, 1937. After his ordination to the Priesthood, Lodonu was appointed Assistant Parish Priest at Ho Sacred Heart Church from June 1964 - August, 1965.

He studied at the University College of Cork, Ireland from September 1965 to September 1968 where he obtained Bachelor of Arts (B. A.) General Degree in Geography, Sociology and History. It is interesting to note that his Bishop chose for him the subjects to study provided he could do it. He instructed him to study three subjects in order to teach them as the need was there. He also studied Latin as a non-examinable subject in the University.

Appointments

September 1968 – September 1970 – Assistant Headmaster, and chaplain at St. Paul Secondary School, Viepe-Aflao (Denu).

1970 – 1972 – Vice Rector and Rector of St. Mary’s Minor Seminary, Lolobi and Vicar General of Keta Diocese.

1972 – 1973 – Rector and Headmaster of St. Mary’s Seminary Secondary School and the Vicar General of the Diocese.

From 1970 to June 1973 Lodonu was teaching Latin in Form I, Geography, Ewe and Bible Knowledge in Form IV and V.

Episcopal Ordination

Lodonu was ordained a Bishop on 29th June, 1973 in St. Peters Basilica, Rome by Pope Paul VI. He was among ten bishops ordained in commemoration of the 10th Pontificate of Pope Paul VI, Lodonu was thirty-five and a half years old and nine years as a priest when he was ordained a Bishop with the title Bishop of the Titular See of Mascula.

Lodonu was appointed by Bishop Anthony Konings as the Vicar General of Keta Diocese in 1972.

On 29th June, 1973, Lodonu was consecrated Auxiliary Bishop by Pope Paul VI in Rome. He was Auxiliary Bishop to the Rt. Rev. Anthony Konings the Bishop of Keta Diocese, from 1973 to 1976. Bishop Anthony Konings later resigned on health grounds and his resignation was accepted by the Holy Father on 10th April, 1976.

On the 15th of August 1976, Lodonu was installed as the Diocesan Bishop of Keta-Ho in the Stadium at Ho. The Government of Col. Ignatius kutu Acheampong was present with the entire Cabinet Col. Amevor, the Regional Minister virtually organized and supported the event.

Bishop Lodonu's Work in the Volta Region

On October 10, 1976 Bishop Lodonu officially opened St. Cecilia Parish at Ho Dome. Fr. Evaristus Etorwu Amegadzi was the pioneer Parish Priest who started the foundation of the parish.

On 31st May 1980, Bishop Lodonu moved his official residence from Kpando (Bishop Herman College) to Ho, the seat of the then Keta-Ho and now Ho Diocese established 19th December, 1994. He was accompanied by Rev. Frs. Simon Agboso (Bursar) and Sylvester Mawusi (Development officer) and Mr. Philip Odikro, (Cook)

On 13th December 1984, Lodonu, then Bishop of Keta –Ho purchased and took over the management of Volta Commercial College, Hohoe established in 1962 by Mr. Ofosu Appiah.On the 20th of March, 1986 the name was changed to St. Agatha’s Commercial College. It is Co-educational Second Cycle Institution that offers a three year programme in secretarial, Accounting and Business Studies and 2-year Diploma programme in Accounting, Secretarial and Marketing.

The Diocesan Secretariat was built in Ho and dedicated by Bishop Lodonu on 13th April 1985, in the presence of the Pro-Nuncio, Archbishop Ivan Dias.

On the 4th of December 1993 Bishop Lodonu laid and blessed the foundation stone of Bishop Konings Social Centre at Sokode Lokoe a suburb of Ho. The Centre dedicated to St. John Baptist Vianney, the Patron Saint of Parish Priests has accommodation, conference rooms and a restaurant.

In June 2004, the Bishop was appointed officially to bring peace between the Nkonyas and the Alavanyos as a Member and Vice Chairman of the Mediation Committee.

Through the efforts of the Catholic Diocesan Peace Building & Conflict Transformation Centre, the Mediation Committee received the necessary material and technical support enabling the communities of Nkonya and Alavanyo to reach a level of Peace today. This Mediation Committee, is still working to bring lasting peace to the two traditional Areas.

Lodonu was awarded the Order of the Volta by the Government of Ghana on 1st July 2006 for distinguishing himself in the Christian Religion.

2006 marked 30th Anniversary of the installation of the Bishop in Ho and the public declaration of Ho as the Episcopal See of Keta-Ho Diocese (which comprised, at that time, virtually the whole Volta Region.)

Reference

Booklet, Calendar and information material commemorating th 30th Anniversary of the Catholic Diocese of Ho