Accra, Oct. 11, GNA - Vice President John Mahama on Saturday paid tribute to the late Reverend William Warabeh Dontoh, General Superintendent of the Assemblies of God Church, who died last month, describing his death as a "great loss to the nation". Eulogising the late cleric at a burial service at the forecourt of the State House, Vice President Mahama recalled the varied contributions that the late Rev. Dontoh rendered to the nation and the church, thanking God for his inspirational life.

Vice President Mahama, a member of the Assemblies of God Church and a close associate of the deceased clergyman, expressed satisfaction of his immense contribution in fostering peace and harmony in the country and the phenomenal growth of the church during his stewardship. The Vice President expressed the hope that the church would continue to nurture the projects started by Rev. Dontoh to enable them to "flourish and blossom" for the benefit of mankind.

Mr Mahama later made a donation of 1000 Ghana cedis and assorted drinks on behalf of the President J.E.A. Mills and on his own behalf to the widow of the late Reverend.

Rev. Dontoh, who died on September 5, 2009, aged 53, is survived by a wife and three daughters.

He had a distinguished pastoral career and played key leadership roles in Ghana's religious front including serving as Vice President of the Ghana Pentecostal Council and as Acting Chairman of the Africa Assemblies of God Alliance.

In 2002, he assumed leadership of the Assemblies of God Church as the General Superintendent for which he was credited for having contributed to its exponential growth.

The church also credits him for ensuring the establishment of Prime Insurance Company, instituting a Pension Fund for serving ministers and preparing the ground work for the proposed Assemblies of God University. Tributes read at the service were adulatory of the late General Superintendent as an epitome of godly values. Chief Justice Georgina Wood extolled him for his "gentility, meekness, depth of wisdom and affable nature".

"I have had deep respect for this man of God because he was patient, a good listener, kind and teachable," she said in a speech read for her. The General Council of the AG said his seven year tenure at the helm of affairs of the church recorded "remarkable transformation and achievements". "He has left a great legacy for promoting transformation, unity in diversity and the courage to attempt great things for God". His wife, Mrs Matilda Dontoh and the children were equally expressive of a doting husband and father, who, they said, was equally consumed with the plight of the marginalised, as he was with the welfare of his family. The wife expressed particular satisfaction about the fact that her late husband had put in measures to improve the welfare of ministers of the church serving in rural communities.

The Rev Dr Simon Asore, immediate past Superintendent Minister of the church, who preached the sermon, described the death of Rev. Dontoh as a triumphant entry into the kingdom of God by a man who showed total commitment and devotion to the will of God.

Rev Dontoh's mortal remains were later interred at the Osu Cemetery. Present at the ceremony were the Minority Leader in Parliament, Mr Osei-Kyei Mensah Bonsu, Reverend Ministers and faithful of the Assemblies of God Church. 11 Oct. 09