CONGRATULATIONS --- APOSTLE DR. ALFRED KODUAH

Apostle Dr Alfred Koduah

This week-end in Accra, Ghana, one of the most distinguished leaders of The Church of Pentecost (COP), Apostle Dr. Alfred Koduah, who has served as General Secretary (G.S) of COP, steps down after having served for the maximum two-term tenure from 2003-2013. During his first term in office, he served under the Chairmanship of Apostle Dr. Michael Ntumy while his second term was under Apostle Dr. Opoku Onyinah.

During Dr. Koduah's decade-long service as G.S, he suggested a number of ideas which were accepted and introduced into the administrative machinery of the church.

First, as head of administration of the church's Headquarters, Apostle Koduah identified the Headquarters as the ''Ministry behind the Ministry." There was the need to modernize the entire administrative system of the church through computerization and the development of the professional skills of the staff. "When we invest much in you, it is simply because we expect much from you," he would challenge the staff.  

Mrs Rachel Koduah

Secondly, though he worked from the four walls of an office in Accra, Apostle Koduah had his eyes on the field. At the time when the church could not keep its infrastructural and developmental pace with its phenomenal growth and spread, he suggested the establishment of a special fund called Accelerated Infrastructural Development Fund, (A.I.D.F). This fund, which was a certain percentage of every congregation's monthly tithes returns to the Headquarters, would go directly to finance the construction of chapels and mission houses (ministers' manses). The establishment of this fund, augmenting similar funds and development grants to the congregations, hastened the infrastructural development of the church.

Apostle Koduah was a target-oriented administrator. He set goals for almost everything and worked hard to accomplish every task before him. He could not countenance laziness or feet-dragging at any level. His managerial ability produced very high results at the Headquarters and beyond by eliminating waste in the system and developing a very effective workforce.

P.C.C Auditorium

P.C.C view of hostel block

This huge P.C.C project, under the aegis of Apostle Dr Koduah, took two years and four days to complete. The entire facility was funded directly by the headquarters of the church, without recourse to the congregations or bank loan. 

Without any surprise, this Man of God applied these very principles to his own life and ministry. For example, he entered the pastoral ministry at a time when he only had a Certificate in Agricultural Science. Later, having shown himself to be studious, the church sponsored him to undertake a course of study which earned him a Master of Theology degree from The University of Manchester. A few months ago he graduated from South Africa Theological Seminary with a PhD degree in Theology. The way he was able to combine his official duties as G.S of a huge church as COP with academic work and writing of books (he has over a dozen titles to his credit) still amazes even his closest associates. (See below some of his latest books.)

Dr Koduah approached issues with a scientific edge. He would first like to know the root causes of issues and provide answers to them. From this background, he probably set up more ad hoc committees than any other  G.S of the church. Thus, problems were resolved with long-lasting effects.
He was a man of ideas. It was joked about him that anytime he took a shower, fresh ideas about issues would dawn upon him as soon as the
water began to splash upon him.

Despite his over-towering physical frame, he knew how to play his "Number 2" role. He would always defer to the Chairman of the church or to the decision of the meeting.
Leadership is role-playing; those so privileged come to play their God-given roles and stand down when it is done. Although we often defer to history to judge the quality of a leader's work, we also know that history begins in the now. We can at least pass comments.

COP 2008-2013 Executive Council. Seated extreme left (as in other photos beneath is Apostle Dr Koduah

Having been called into the full-time pastoral ministry the same day as Apostle Koduah, shared the same
hostel with him at Bible College, called into top leadership position in the same year and thus meeting, brain-storming on issues of church life together and later serving on the church's Executive Council (he as General Secretary and I, as Chairman), I can say without a modicum of doubt that the man has served his God and church with distinction.

On this occasion of appreciating him and his family, I wish to congratulate my long-time friend, colleague and fellow apostle on his meritorious service to God, his church and humanity.

COP FLAG

CONGRATS, APOSTLE DR ALFRED KODUAH. YOUR SERVICE TO GOD AND YOUR CHURCH HAS BEEN SPLENDID; YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS OUTSTANDING AND YOUR INTEGRITY UNTARNISHED. THE FRUIT OF YOUR WORK WILL ENDURE FOR MANY GENERATIONS TO COME.


MAY GOD BLESS YOU AS YOU PROCEED TO ASSUME YOUR NEW ROLE AS AREA HEAD.


Apostle Dr Michael Ntumy