Bishop of Jasikan, Gabriel Ababio Mante absent at Ad Limina visit

Catholic Trends correspondent in Rome reports that the Bishop of Jasikan Diocese in Ghana, Most Rev. Gabriel Akwasi Ababio Mante is not with his brother Bishops on their Ad Limina visit.

Catholic Trends sources indicate that the Bishop has taken ill and is receiving treatment in a hospital in his home country Ghana.

It is however not clear what the specifics of his condition are.

Bishop Mante participated in the April 2006 and September 2014 visits.

Most Rev. Gabriel Akwasi Ababio Mante has been the Bishop of the Jasikan Diocese since its inception in December 1994.

He was born on 27th July 1947 in Nkonya Ahenkro where he had his elementary and GCE O & A level before proceeding to the Major seminary for his formative years.

He was ordained a priest on the 2nd July, 1977 in Nkonya where he began his pastoral years. He furthered his studies in Theology in Rome and was later consecrated as a Bishop on 28th May 1995.

In January 2023, Catholic Trends reported that Pope Francis was likely to appoint new Bishops for some Diocese in Ghana. Aside the Diocese of Wiawso and the Archdiocese of Accra which have seen new appointments, the Jasikan Diocese was also captured in that report.

The prediction had its backing in Canon Law.

According to Canon Law [Can. 401 §1.]  of the Catholic Church, a “Diocesan Bishop who has completed the seventy-fifth year of age is requested to present his resignation from office to the Supreme Pontiff, who will make provision after he has examined all the circumstances.”

This means that a Diocese or Archdiocese becomes eligible for the appointment of a new Bishop when the occupying Bishop reaches the age of 75 years.

“The oldest crop of Bishops/Archbishops who have served the church dutifully and nearing their period of retirement are Most Rev. Philip Naameh of the Metropolitan Archbishop of Tamale (He will be 75 years in September 2023) Most Rev. Joseph Osei-Bonsu, Bishop of Konongo-Mampong Diocese ( He will be 75 years in February 2023) and Most Rev. Gabriel Akwasi Ababio Mante, Bishop of Jasikan Diocese (He will be 76 years old in July 2023),” the January 2023 report by Catholic Trends said.

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What this means is that the Holy Father could name a new bishop for the Jasikan Diocese within the shortest possible time.

Call for prayer for healing

Catholic Trends is by this medium calling for prayers for Bishop Mante and all Bishops, retired Bishops and priests as well as the faithful battling ill health. May God our healer come through for them. Amen.