BIOGRAPHY

PAUL HENRY AFAGBEGEE  (1915–2009)

The Mystic and a Photographer - Ghana

On the last day of 1915, under the tropical skies of West Africa, a child was born whose life would quietly touch countless others. Paul Henry Afagbegee, known to many simply as "Papa," came into the world on Friday, December 31, 1915, in dramatic and tragic circumstances. His mother, Madam Catherine Saliha, went into labour in Denu, a small town in Ghana’s Volta Region, near the Aflao border with Togo. Rushed to the nearest hospital in Lomé, Togo, she safely delivered her son, but sadly, she did not survive. His father, Mr. Henry Baumann, was left to raise the newborn Paul alone.

Paul’s early life was marked by movement and adaptation. His family relocated to the interior of Ghana, seeking stability and opportunity. There, Paul’s journey of growth began in earnest. He attended the prestigious Mfantsipim Secondary School, an institution renowned for producing scholars, leaders, and trailblazers. Paul thrived academically, but tragedy struck once again: in Form 5, just before his final exams, his father passed away. Financial hardship forced him to leave school, a painful turning point that would awaken his creativity and resilience.

The Birth of a Career

Out of necessity, Paul turned his gaze inward, drawing upon his school training in photography. What began as a practical choice soon blossomed into a lifelong career. Paul built his photography business from the ground up, working from home in Kumasi and gradually earning the trust and respect of the community. His lens captured the faces, stories, and celebrations of a generation, and through his work, he preserved moments that might otherwise have been lost to time.

Ever restless and curious, Paul ventured back to Togo as a young man, exploring new horizons. For a brief period, he joined the Gilchrist Olympio political party, drawn by its vision of progress. Yet politics failed to satisfy his deeper aspirations, and he returned to Ghana, devoting himself once again to his craft.

Family and Legacy

In Lomé, Togo, Paul met and married Miss Innocentia Korkor Broohm. Together, they built a family blessed with nine children, whose lives would reflect the values of education, service, and faith. Destiny, however, brought sorrow once more when Innocentia passed away in 1974.

In 1981, Paul married Miss Rose Kohoe, and their union brought two more children, extending his family to eleven. His children grew into diplomats, clergy, sailors, business people, and professionals, each carrying forward his quiet strength and wisdom.

A Man of Faith and Mysticism

Beyond his public life, Paul Henry Afagbegee nurtured a profound spiritual journey. A devout Roman Catholic, he served faithfully as a catechist, guiding others in faith and helping many find comfort during life’s trials. But Papa’s spiritual curiosity went deeper still. Privately, he was a Christian Mystic, belonging to an international association of Christian Mystics, (Rosicrucian fellowship) dedicated to exploring the hidden dimensions of faith and metaphysics. Mr Afagbegee was very devoted to the cause of the Mystic society and groomed many others in its traditions, he was a practical Mystic scientist and loved to perform experiments, He was described by his colleagues as a silent worker because he like using his thought forces more in solving problems

Through meditation, prayer, and esoteric study, Paul discovered what he described as insight into life’s spiritual currents, insight that strengthened his resolve to be his brother’s keeper. His home quietly became a refuge for those seeking comfort and guidance, couples struggling in marriage, women facing difficulties in childbirth, and countless others burdened by worry or illness came to him to solve their problems.

Papa combined traditional herbal knowledge with meditation, often enchanting water or herbs to restore harmony and health. As a voluntary marriage counsellor, he helped many couples reconcile, teaching them to forgive and find unity. His gentle philosophy of life emphasized patience, forgiveness, and inner peace. “There is no need to retaliate or seek revenge,” he would say. “Forgive, reconcile, and free your mind from negativity.”

A Gentle Giant’s Passing

Paul Henry Afagbegee lived to the remarkable age of 91. His life spanned colonial rule, independence, and Ghana’s transformation into a modern nation. Even in his final days, he remained a man full of smiles and quiet counsel, a presence so familiar and reassuring that when he passed away at Komfo Anokye Hospital on Saturday, January 12, 2009, at 3:00 a.m., his family could scarcely believe that “Papa” had truly departed.

To those who knew him, Paul was more than a photographer or a catechist. He was a bridge between the seen and unseen; a man whose life proved that hardship can awaken creativity, that faith can coexist with mysticism, and that one person’s quiet kindness can ripple across generations. But we know his spirit endures not only in the photographs he took or the words he shared, but in every act of kindness, forgiveness, and faith we carry forward. Papa showed us that greatness can dwell in quiet hearts, that service need not be loud, and that love leaves a mark no passing can erase.

Rest well, Papa.Your journey continues in every life you touched, every lesson you taught, and every 

prayer whispered in your memory. We love you, and we thank you for everything.