By Kodjo Adams
Accra, July 27, GNA – A solemn burial mass for the late Patrick Dela Cofie, Head of the Foreign Desk, Ghana News Agency, has taken place at the Our Lady of Apostles Catholic Church in Madina, in the Greater Accra Region.
The burial mass was witnessed by family members and sympathisers who paid their last respects to him and bid him farewell.
Reverend Father Nimorious Kwabena Domanzing, Resident Priest, Queen of Peace Catholic Church, Madina, in his sermon reminded humankind of mortality, quoting Saint James Chapter 4:14. “Our human nature and lives here on earth are like vapour.
“They appear for a moment, and after a short while, they disappear,” he said.
“Psalm 103:15 states that we are just like wild grass that blossoms. They blossom, and by the end of the day, when the sun is setting, they disappear.”
Rev Domanzing said death was inevitable and something that no one could avoid, stressing that “My hour will come, and your hour too will come.”
“Life itself is a pilgrimage, and Pope Francis invites us to see ourselves as pilgrims of hope.
“Journeying with the Lord, hoping that one day the reward that he has promised to each and every one of us shall come to pass,” he said.
The Clergyman extolled the impeccable values of the late Cofie, describing him as “a man so quiet but very active.”
“Can you imagine that? A quiet person but very, very active. I was informed that he joined the church at Nsawam prison for a donation, and this man did not only make himself available but even his car,” he said.
“No wonder when I read his biography, he was described as a man who wants to live his life for others. He is a man of integrity. A man who loved God. A man who had faith in God.
“He is very intelligent, but he comes and sits here quietly. Only God knows; maybe he would have felt like maybe as an editor I wish I could edit various copies, but see, he never showed anything pointing to somebody that he is an intelligent man.”
Rev Fr Domanzing said the late Cofie was very instrumental in establishing the sacred heart of fraternity in the church.
“One of the ladies in the church, said, Father, the late Cofie was the only active man in the confraternity,” he said.
“What will people say about us when we also exit this world? He will go to the grotto to pray to God through his mother. He will go before the blessed sacrament, acknowledging that without God he is nothing, but with God he is a giant, and it is this giant that we celebrate today.”
The Reverend Father said the life of the late Cofie must encourage Christians to love God and our neighbours.
He urged Christians to follow the path of Christ and live a life of simplicity for others to learn.
“If you live a life for others, if you are fighting for justice, if you are a trustworthy man or woman, if you always stand for the truth, all we will see is the reward of God in heaven.”
Reverend Dr Lawrence Tetteh, Founder of World Miracle Outreach, described the late Cofie as a man who knew how to relate to people from different walks of life.
“But beyond that, he loved God and loved people,” he said.
Rev Tetteh said the late Cofie was passionate about the needs of the underprivileged, and he was ready to learn up to every level.
“We have lost a very brilliant young man to death, but for death, he would have been a great icon that would be beneficial, not just to the family, but to the community.
The family of the late Cofie described him as a man who stood firmly for what was right and spoke up for those whose voices were seldom heard.
They said he carried his values with dignity and grace, adding, “You chased truth with zeal and wrote with purpose, leaving behind a legacy of impactful writing and excellence in your field.”
The family said he led not from a place of ego, but with humility, compassion, and quiet strength. In every role you held—editor, teacher, union leader, friend—you gave your best, never seeking praise, but always lifting others.
“You showed us that one could lead with a heart, serve with purpose, and love without limit. Your life was a message, and your memory, a blessing,” the family added.
The late Cofie joined the GNA as an Editor, initially serving on the Home Desk.
With his diligence, talent, and passion for his work, he was transferred to the Foreign Desk on 29th October 2013 to assist with international news editing.
His unwavering dedication to duty earned him a promotion to the rank of Senior Editor on 1st December 2016 while still serving on the Foreign Desk.
By dint of hard work and leadership, he was appointed Head of the Foreign Desk on 3rd April 2023, a position he held with distinction until his passing.
Alongside his professional work, Patrick was a committed advocate for staff rights and welfare, which earned him the accolade “Comrade Dela Cofie.”
In 2012, he was elected First Vice Chairman of the Communication Workers Union (CWU) at the GNA under the Trades Union Congress (TUC) and represented the Union with distinction at numerous national and international forums, including the TUC Quadrennial Conference and the CWU Quadrennial Delegates Conference.
He also participated actively in workshops and training programmes that enhanced his capacity to serve the Union effectively for many years.
GNA
Edited by Samuel Osei-Frempong