ADRA stalwart Pastor Dr William Y.K. Brown celebrated for 25 years of humanitarian leadership
A retirement and thanksgiving service has been held at the Bethel Seventh-day Adventist Church at Osu in honour of Pastor Dr William Y.K. Brown, marking the end of decades of distinguished service to the church and humanity, particularly through the Adventist Development and Relief Agency Ghana.
The solemn yet celebratory service brought together church members, family, friends and institutions Dr Brown had served over the years, with testimonies reflecting his impact in ministry, education and humanitarian work. It followed an order of service that included a guard of honour, a sermon by a retired chaplain and farewell messages that highlighted his enduring legacy.
Retired Chaplain Peter Osei Mensah, a former President of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, focused his address on the spiritual transition into retirement, urging Dr Brown to embrace the next phase of life with wisdom and balance.
Chaplain Osei Mensah also advised the retired pastor and the congregation to prioritise personal well-being, warning against allowing professional commitments to overshadow self-care.
“Don’t let all the adjunct professorship and professorial job take control of every day of your life. Take time to take care of yourself,” he said.
The guest of honour, Elder Yeboah Asuamah, paid glowing tribute to Dr Brown, describing him as a humble and effective humanitarian whose service was driven by compassion rather than recognition.
“He did not seek applause or recognition. He simply saw a need and met it. Quietly, faithfully, and with a humility that inspired all who wept for him,” he said.
Elder Yeboah noted that Dr Brown’s work with ADRA Ghana, ranging from HIV/AIDS prevention and response to food security and disaster relief, reflected a life committed to meaningful service.
“Your impact is written not just in reports or achievements, but in lives changed, hearts lifted, and hope restored,” he added, while affirming deep respect for his dedication to service, education and faith.
Dr Brown, whose career spans more than 25 years, was celebrated for transformative leadership in both humanitarian and ministerial work. He served as Country Director of ADRA Ghana from 2008 to 2024, having earlier worked as Deputy Director, and led several major development projects, including high-impact HIV/AIDS initiatives, one of which earned an ECOWAS Prize for Excellence.
An accomplished educator, Dr Brown has lectured at several universities and contributed to the development of graduate curricula, while his influence has also extended beyond Ghana through his role as a facilitator for leadership programmes across Africa.
