By Grace Zigah
The Christian community in Kumasi and beyond has been thrown into mourning following the death of Archbishop Richard Samuel Addae, the founder and spiritual leader of Shiloh United Church, whose decades of ministry, theological education and community service left an enduring mark on thousands of lives.
News of the revered clergyman’s passing emerged on Friday, June 26, 2026, prompting an outpouring of grief from church members, former students, religious leaders and residents who remembered him as a devoted servant of God, mentor and educator.
Although reports confirmed his death, the exact cause has not been disclosed, and the family had not issued an official statement at the time the news became public.
The announcement was first shared on social media by Kumasi-based content creator Kwabena Nsafoa, who said he had known Archbishop Addae for more than three decades as a neighbour.
Paying tribute to the late cleric, Nsafoa affectionately referred to him as “Sofo Panyin,” a title commonly used to honour respected senior ministers within the Christian community. Earlier, another social media user, El Son Clifford, had also broken the news of the Archbishop’s passing, which quickly spread across various online platforms.
Archbishop Addae was widely recognised as one of Kumasi’s influential church leaders whose ministry extended beyond the pulpit into education and leadership development.
He founded the Shiloh Bible College at Tanoso, an institution that later evolved into the Shiloh Archbishop Addae Theological Institute.
Through the institute, he trained pastors, evangelists and Christian workers from different parts of Ghana, equipping many for ministry and leadership within the church.
