Accra, March 11, GNA - The death is reported of His Eminence, Peter Cardinal Poreku Dery, retired Archbishop of Tamale. He died on March 6, 2008, at the age of 89 at his residence in Tamale.

Born in Nandom Ko in the Upper West Region on May 10, 1918, Cardinal Meritus Dery was ordained into the Priesthood on February 11, 1951.

A statement from the Catholic Secretariat signed by Mr Ben Assorow, Director of Communications, said Cardinal Dery became the Bishop of Wa on May 8, 1960 and was enthroned Archbishop of Tamale on November 27, 1977, and retired in 1994.

Cardinal Dery who held a Doctorate in Divinity was one time the President of the Ghana Catholic Bishops Conference for two terms from 1982 to 1988.

Pope Benedict XV made him a Cardinal in March 2006 in honour of the invaluable services he rendered to the Church with exemplary faithfulness and admirable dedication. Cardinal Dery did mentor many a youth within and outside the church.

Two years ago, Cardinal Dery was honoured by the State by conferring on him member of the Order of the Star of Ghana, (OSG) for his immense contribution to the development of the country. Meanwhile, Pope Benedict XVI has sent a message of condolence to the Most Rev. Gregory Kpiebaya, Archbishop of Tamale and the head of family of the late Cardinal Dery.

He paid homage to Cardinal Dery for his dedicated work for the growth of the Church in Ghana even at times when conditions were very difficult.