Rev Father Andrew Campbell is an Irish-Ghanaian Catholic missionary, who has dedicated most of his life to the service of God and humanity in Ghana.
He is also the founder of the Lepers Aid Committee and the former parish priest of Christ the King Catholic Church in Accra. The NGO has established and run a leprosarium in Weija, Ho, Nkanchina, and Kokofu.
Born in Dublin, Ireland, on 27 March 1946, he attended Kindergarten at Sisters of Charity School and de la Salle Primary School, both in Dublin.
He studied philosophy and theology and through hard work and dedication, obtained his Bachelor of Divinity Degree from St. Patrick’s College in the United Kingdom in October 1970.
Here are seven interesting things you (probably) didn’t know about the Catholic clergyman.
Priesthood
1. Fr Andrew Campbell was ordained into the Catholic priesthood in December 1970. He came to Ghana at the age of 25.
2. Education entrepreneur
In 1978, he opened the sacred Heart Paris Middle School in Accra and two years later, founded and opened the Sacred Heart Vocational Institute for poor and needy students in Accra Central. The University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS), Ho, in November 2020 conferred an Honorary Doctorate on Rev. Father Andrew Campbell.
3. Nickname
He is nicknamed Nii Lante. Fr Campbell adopted the name, which literally means first born in Ga while working at Derby Avenue in Accra, because he was the first born of his parents.
4. Close associate
Fr Campbell is a good friend to the Vice-President of Ghana Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, who has over the years been a staunch supporter of lepers in Ghana.
5. Lepers priest
The Catholic clergyman has a book written in his honour titled: “The Lepers Priest”.
The book, which was authored by Dr Maria M Kuusaana, a lecturer at the History Department of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), has six chapters encapsulating the selflessness, sacrifices, loving and caring lifestyle, as well as the humanitarian and social services of the retired Catholic priest.
6. Septuagenarian
Father Andrew Campbell turned 77 on Monday 27 March 2023. On his 77th birthday, he handed over a renovated mosque to facilitate the worship of Muslim lepers at the Weija Leprosarium.
7. Retired priest
Father Campbell retired from priestly duties in 2021 after 50 years of service to the church in Ghana. Before his retirement at 75, he had served as the Parish Priest of the Christ the King Parish for 12 years.
Reporting by Fred Dzakpata in Accra
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