Tributes have been paid to the Bishop of Tamale, Jacob Ayeebo, who died suddenly this week in the office of his diocese’s development agency. He was aged 58. Bishop Jacob, the second Bishop of Tamale in Ghana, part of the Church of the Province of West Africa, died on Tuesday (12 February) at the offices of ADDRO – the Anglical Diocesan Development Organisation, in Bolgatanga, Ghana. “Please join us as we offer our prayers and deepest condolences to his family, the ADDRO staff, the Anglican Diocese of Tamale and everyone in the Church of the Province of West Africa”, the Provincial Secretary, Canon Anthony Eiwuley, said.

Between February 2009 and January 2017, Bishop Jacob served as a member of Ghana’s Council of State, an official body which exists to advise the country’s President. Dr Ayeebo served two terms as a Council member, having been elected to serve the Upper East Region. He built a partnership with Episcopal Relief & Development (ERD), the development agency of the US-based Episcopal Church, and collaborated with ERD staff on integrated programmes to address poverty and disease in the Upper East region.

He was in charge of the economic desk of the internal province of Ghana and had served as a board member of the British-based Anglican mission agency USPG. He also served as Chairman of the Board of the Toende Rural Bank in Zebilla, capital of the the Bawku West District.

Canon Dennis Tong of Saint Cyprian Anglican Church told the Ghana News Agency that Bishop Jacob was pronounced dead on arrival at Bolgatanga’s regional hospital, where he had been taken by some ADDRO colleagues. The cause of death has been stated as congestive cardiac failure.

Canon Eiwuley said: “We will always remember Bishop Jacob’s warmth and friendship.”

Funeral arrangements are being finalised. Bishop Jacob. He leaves a wife, Rita, a daughter and three sons.