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Tears flowed freely at the burial service for the late Francis Thomas Anderson, a 29-year-old graphic designer whose life came to a tragic end on April 15, this year, after armed robbers shot and killed him at his Kwashieman residence in Accra.

The hundreds of mourners, who attended the burial service at the St Theresa’s Catholic Church in Kaneshie, could not hold back their tears when the eight-month pregnant widow of Francis, Mrs Eugenia Anderson, and Francis’ sister, Ms Clara Anderson, took turns to read their tributes. 

“It is so sad that he did not get the chance to meet his child. Only God knows how Papa wanted this baby so badly,” Mrs Anderson said as tears ran down her cheeks. 

An emotional Ms Anderson summed up the relationship between her departed brother and her by saying, “My life has always been centred around you since we were just two. You take me to work, you bring me home, you send me to church and you make sure I am home early. You always made me believe that you will always be there for us. Now where are you, Papa?”

Members of the Knights and Ladies of Marshall, a society in the Catholic Church to which the entire Anderson family belonged, were highly represented.                   

The Managing Director of the Graphic Communications Group Limited (GCGL), Mr Kenneth Ashigbey, led prayers for the widow.

Francis’ death; a clarion call

In a sermon, the Parish Priest of the St Theresa’s Catholic Church, Very Rev. Fr. Johannes Kofi Mintah-Mensah, said the sudden demise of Francis should be a wake-up call to the youth to give their lives to Christ and serve Him with all their  strength.

“The death of Francis should be a clarion call to the youth who are trying hard to make it in life that there is no wealth without hard work,” he observed. 

According to him, Francis lived a victorious life worthy of emulation, noting that he was faithful, reliable, a no-nonsense man, caring, compassionate and an ideal as well as a noble man.

Very Rev. Fr. Mintah-Mensah used the occasion to call on the security services in the country to be proactive in their activities to secure the lives of Ghanaians. 

He expressed regret that whereas many Ghanaians were insecure, politicians and people who could afford to hire security personnel had four policemen to guard them, both at home and their offices.

He indicated that it was a sad occurrence for many lives to be lost through the actions of unscrupulous and irresponsible persons such as armed robbers, while the security agencies “looked on helplessly and unconcerned.”

“Until all forms of evil are eradicated or eliminated from our society, the human freedom and liberty we’ve always been seeking will be meaningless. Unless there is equality, we’re far away from a just society,” he charged.

He further called on the government to do its best to give the necessary assistance that the security agencies might require to ensure that their activities go on smoothly.

Click to view more photographs of the burial

Birth and early life

On August 17, 1985, Francis Thomas Papa Bosomafi Kwame Anderson was born to Mr Frank Kobina Anderson and Mrs Mary Abena Akyaa Anderson in Accra. 

Papa, as he was affectionately called, started his primary and junior high school education at St Theresa’s.

He later went to the Presbyterian Boy’s Senior High School (PRESEC) in Accra and continued to the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) for his tertiary education in Communication Design.

Francis worked with companies such as BenchMac, Lintas and Origin 8 as a graphic designer. 

He is remembered for his infectious smiles, jokes, honesty in handling issues, hard work and sense of responsibility.

Papa is credited with designing great logos for Horseman Shoes, Msimps, Maka & Lexin, Pee & Kay Records, Cardinal Petroleum Group, Pastry Palace and Wear Ghana.

Death of Francis 

He was shot dead on April 15, 2015 at his Kwashieman residence. 

The perpetrators of the dastardly act are yet to be brought to book but the police have vowed to do everything possible to smoke them out.

At the time of his attack, his neighbourhood had been plunged into darkness.