By Emmanuel Nyatsikor
Peki Tsame (V/R), March 23, GNA – The mortal remains of Reverend Professor Gilbert Kwame Ansre, a renowned Ghanaian theologian, linguistics and Church leader has been interred at Peki Tsame, his hometown.
He died on February 27, 2026, aged 96 years.
His burial service was held at the Trinity United Church, Trinity Theological Seminary, Legon, Accra last Friday.
According to his biography, the late Rev. Prof. Ansre was born on February 1, 1930
He began his early education at the Evangelical Presbyterian Church schools at Amedzofe, Peki and Worawora before gaining admission at the Presbyterian Boys Secondary School at Odumase Krobo in 1946 and completed in 1949.
The late Rev Prof Ansre was later trained as a teacher at the Presbyterian Training College at Akropong between 1950 and 1951 and later trained as a Catechist at the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Ghana (EPCG) Seminary at Peki.
He studied theology, Latin and Greek at the Gold Coast University College, now, University of Ghana (UG) and graduated in 1952 with a Bachelor of Divinity (Honours) degree from the University of London.
Between 1959 and 1961, he pursued a Master’s degree in linguistics at the Hartford Seminary Foundation in Hartford, USA and later enrolled at the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London where he completed his PHD in Linguistics.
The late Rev Prof Ansre was a leading scholar of Ewe language and African Linguistics.
He began his professional career as a teacher at Mawuli School from 1956 to 1959 and continued as a teaching fellow at the Hartford Seminary Foundation, USA.
The late Professor was a Research Fellow and Associate Professor in Linguistics, UG from 1961 to 1971, a visiting Lecturer at the school of Oriental and African Studies, University of London between 1964 and 1966.
The biography stated that he played a pioneering role in the establishment of the Language Centre and the Department of Linguistics of the UG and became the Director of the Language Centre, before becoming the Hall Master of Akuafo Hall from 1976 to 1979.
It said he was ordained Minister of the Gospel by the EPCG on March 4, 1962.
The late Rev. Prof Ansre also served as a Chaplain of Akuafo Hall from 1962 to 1974 where he provided spiritual leadership and moral guidance to students, staff, and the University community.
Following his retirement from the University in 1980, he devoted himself fully to Bible translation, serving as a Consultant for the Bible Society of Ghana.
He played a significant role in language development and National Education Policy in Ghana and served as the chairman of Ga and Akan Orthographies and Ewe Language Committee for the Bureau of Ghana Languages.
The late Rev Prof Ansre also served as External Examiner and Thesis Assessor for Universities in Ghana and a member of the Ghana Constitutional Review Commission in 1978 and President of the West African Linguistics Society from 1990 to 1996.
He had several publications to his credit and also had several awards and recognitions, key among them the Order of the Volta which was conferred on him in 2024 by the then President Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo.
Mrs Cecilia Ansre, widow in her tribute, stated that her world was shaped by his presence and that, “you indeed changed my perception about many things in life.”
His children in their tribute described him as someone who did not only teach them about faith but lived it.
“From Papa we learnt faith, humility, integrity, discipline, kindness and love,” they said.
The EPCG in their tribute said the late Rev Prof Ansre was an astute Bible translator and was very particular about mother tongue.
The Church said he was a stalwart of the Church who guided many in their faith journeys, adding, “his love for scripture, wisdom and kindness inspired many individuals.”
He left behind his wife, five children and several grand and great grandchildren.
GNA
Edited by Maxwell Awumah/Linda Asante Agyei