Wa, May 3, GNA - The Wa Diocese of the Catholic Church on Saturday held a memorial thanksgiving mass for the late Peter Cardinal Porekuu Dery, the Archbishop Emeritus of the Tamale Ecclesiastical Province, to bid him farewell.

The Most Reverend Paul Bemile, Catholic Bishop of the Wa Diocese who was the main celebrant, described him as a great man of culture, a statesman and a great man of the people.

"Cardinal Dery indeed was also a great evangelist and an eminent apostle of Jesus Christ who took Dagaaba to Christ", he said. He said Cardinal Dery who hailed from the Upper West Region, was the first Dagao Christian, the first Dagao Priest in Ghana, first Dagao Parish Priest of Kaleo, first Dagao Bishop, first Dagao Archbishop, first Dagao Cardinal and first Dagao Bishop to be given a state burial. Most Rev Bemile said it was for these reasons that the diocese found it befitting to celebrate a thanksgiving mass for the peaceful repose of his soul.

He said Cardinal Dery had worked tirelessly and contributed in no small measure to the growth and development of the region and the diocese in education, health, portable water, agriculture, women empowerment to mention but a few.

Most Rev Bemile said Cardinal Dery was a devoted Pastor who was prepared to give his life for his sheep noting: "He went every where to look for his sheep and snatching them from the ravaging wolves".

Most Rev Bemile said Cardinal Dery proclaimed a gospel of total and holistic human development because it was his belief that a "human being is not just a soul and spirit but a body imbued with a soul, mind and spirit in an undivided manner".

He said it was for these reasons that Cardinal Dery concerned himself with the establishment of formal and non-formal education, technical and vocational institutions, health services and agricultural institutions, economic ventures like the credit union and the empowerment of women.

"Even as Cardinal lies in his grave he is still waiting eagerly for the day when Dagaare women as well as women of other tribes will be given freely to their husbands in marriage or else just a small token of appreciation."

Most Rev Bamile said Cardinal Dery had concerned himself with the growing poverty, land and chieftaincy disputes, religious conflicts and environmental degradation as well as diseases, illiteracy and secularisations.

Madam Asibi Winifred Dy-Yakah, Deputy Upper West Regional Minister, said the death of Cardinal Dery was a great loss to the Catholic Church, the Upper West Region and humanity as well as Ghana. She said there was no doubt that the bulk of the gratitude that the region owed to the Catholic Church for all its contribution to development must be associated to Cardinal Dery.

"Peter Cardinal Dery's life also gave real meaning to the Church and State partnership in development and improving upon the lives of the people"

Mr. Vincent Angbing, a family member of Cardinal Dery said the Cardinal used to like outsiders than his immediate family members and urged others to emulate him by learning to share what they have with the needy and also love one another. Catholic faithful across the country and Burkina Faso attended the mass. 03 May 08