Isaac Ababio

Isaac Ababio (26 April 1940 - 6 August 2018) was a Ghanaian evangelist. He pioneered radio evangelism in Ghana and founded and served as Director of the Hour of Visitation Choir and Evangelism Association Ministries (H.V.C.E.A), the first evangelistic association in Ghana from 1968 to 2018. He was also one of the founding members of the Scripture Union in Ghana.

Early life Ababio was born on 26 April 1940 in Kwahu Nkwatia, in the Eastern Region of Ghana. He was the youngest child of Abena Nipaa and Kwaku Abaah, who hailed from Peki-Blengo. His mother died when he was just two years old, and his father also left his life at a young age. Ababio had very little interaction with his father, who had relocated when he was seven years old and was never seen again until news of his father's death reached him at the age of sixteen. Raised by his sisters and uncles in Kwahu Nkwatia, he grew up in a culturally diverse environment as an Ewe and Akan by birth, becoming fluent in both the Akan and English languages.

Ababio's early education took place in the Presbyterian primary and middle schools, which exposed him to memorization of biblical passages. Following this, he entered the Accra Academy in 1956 for his secondary education. He was influenced by a scripture passage from the book of Ecclesiastes 11, which led him to accept Christianity.

In 1967, he organised crusades at Bukom Square and Baden-Powell Memorial Hall, attracting many young men and women who actively supported his mission. They initiated open-air crusades at Kwame Nkrumah Circle, taking place from Wednesdays to Sundays on a weekly basis for many months.

By 1968, he had introduced the Hour of Visitation Radio Broadcast on the National Broadcasting Network GBC-2, marking his role as the pioneering radio evangelist in Ghana. He also established the Hour of Visitation Choir to support these radio programmes. The programme continued for fourteen years until 1982, when it was discontinued by the military government of J. J. Rawlings. It later resumed on Radio ELWA in Monrovia, Liberia, from 1987 to 1990 before returning to Ghana. In Ghana, it was broadcast on JOY FM from 1995 to 1999, then moved to a different channel on that network, and ultimately to Spring FM. and the National Association of Evangelicals (NEA) of Ghana. He served as the inaugural chairperson of the NEA of Ghana from 1992 to 2000 and actively participated in mission activities within universities, schools, and colleges. He continued his affiliation with the Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG), and at least one or two PCG churches originated in his home.

Ababio also chaired evangelistic crusades for evangelists such as T. L Osborn and Benson Idahosa. He conducted outreach activities through churches and schools and training courses for leadership counsellors across various locations in Ghana. Ababio died on Friday, 6 July 2018, due to complications arising from an orthopaedic surgery. He was buried on 4 August 2018 at the Dzorwulu Presbyterian Church.