Members of the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference are in Rome for their 2023 Ad Limina visit to Rome.
The obligatory visit made by all Catholic bishops within a particular country to Rome officially commenced with Holy Mass by the Bishops of Ghana with the Ghanaian community in Rome led by Archbishop of the Cape Coast Archdiocese, Most Rev. Gabriel Charles Palmer-Buckle on Sunday, May 21.
Catholic Trends has been profiling first-time Bishops at the visit after their last visit in 2014.
Most. Rev. John Yaw Afoakwa
Most Rev. John Yaw Afoakwa was ordained the third Bishop of the Obuasi Diocese on January 10, 2015 about 3 months after the last Ad Limina visit by prelates in Ghana in September 2014 at age 60.
Before becoming a Bishop, he was the Rector of the St. Louis Rectorate, Bodwesango, a chaplain and teacher at the Bodwesango Senior High School, and a Board member of Saint Louis Clinic, also at Bodwesango in the Adansi North District. Most Rev. Gabriel Justice Yaw Anokye, the Metropolitan Archbishop of Kumasi as the
principal consecrator with Most, performed the Episcopal ordination and installation. Most Rev. Jean-Marie Speich, then Apostolic Nuncio to Ghana, and Most Rev Thomas Kwaku Mensah, the second Archbishop Emeritus of Kumasi as co-consecrators.
He was ordained into the priesthood in July 1992.
Most Reverend Emmanuel Kofi Fianu
Most Reverend Emmanuel Kofi Fianu, a native of Tegbi in the Keta Municipality, was ordained Bishop of Ho in October 2015.
He succeeded Most Reverend Francis A.K. Lodonu who is on retirement after serving nearly 50 years as Bishop of Ho.
Before becoming Bishop at age 56, Bishop Fianu served as the immediate past Secretary General of the Society of the Divine Word (SVD) of the Church and
The ordination was supervised by Peter Cardinal Appiah Turkson, then President of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, and attracted catholic bishops from the sub-region and traditional leaders in the Volta Region, including Togbe Afede XIV, President of the Regional House of Chiefs.
In a sermon, Most Rev Charles G. Palmer-Buckle, Archbishop of Accra, urged Catholic priests and bishops to endeavour to be good shepherds.
“We are responsible for the apostolic duties of the Church and must be identified with the sheep. We must have the smell of the sheep,” he said.
Most Rev. John Alphonse Asiedu
Most Rev. John Alphonse Asiedu was born on May 12, 1962 at Adeemmra-Kwahu in the Afram Plains, part of Koforidua Diocese, before, but now the Apostolic Vicariate of Donkorkrom, to the late Opanin Daniel K. Boadu from Adjena in the Akwamu Traditional area and to Madam Rebecca Akua Boadu from Nkonya Ntumda.
The Apostolic Vicar had his Elementary education in Adeemmra-Kwahu and Amankwakrom and completed middle school at Adeemmra-Kwahu in 1978.
He had his Secondary school education at Donkorkrom Agric School from 1978-1981; Nkonya secondary school from 1981-184 obtaining GCE Ordinary Level and at Kadjebi-Asafo Secondary School with GCE Advance Level.
In 1987, he got admission into SVD formation programme.
He did three years philosophy studies at St. Victor Major Seminary, Tamale from 1987-1990 and then went to Nkwatia-Kwahu for his SVD Novitiate Formation and had his First Religious Profession on 21st September 1991 at Nsawam-Adoagyiri.
He had his four years theological studies at St. Victor’s Major Seminary (1991-1994,1996-1997).
He went to Mexico for his overseer Training Programme from 1994-1996. On 8th September 1996 he had his perpetual Religious Profession at Holy Family Parish, Mataheko, Accra.
He had his Diaconate Ordination at St. Victor’s Major Seminary, Tamale by Most Rev. Gregory E. Kpiebaya, the then Archbishop of Tamale and on 19th July 1997, he was ordained to the Priesthood at the Holy Spirit Cathedral by the Late Archbishop Dominic Andoh in the Archdiocese of Accra.
After his Ordination, he was assigned assistant Priest at Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish Kwahu-Tafo.
In 2001 the Apostolic Vicar studied Religious Course at the Institute of St. Anselm, Cliftonville, Kent, England taking up the following Diploma and certificates: Diploma in Human growth and Development; Postgraduate Certificate in individual group Psycho-Spiritual Counselling Skills and Human Development; and certificate in Integrative Group Facilitation.
He was appointed Apostolic Vicar on February 11, 2019 and ordained a Bishop on May 4, 2019.
Most Rev. John Baptist Attakruh
Bishop of the Sekondi-Takoradi Diocese, John Baptist Attakruh was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Sekondi-Takoradi on 30th July 1989. His first appointment was to Immaculate Conception Parish as Assistant Priest from 1989 to 1991.
He was then appointed as Vice-Rector of St. Mary’s Minor Seminary in Apowa, and at the same time, he was a tutor and Chaplain at St. Mary’s Boys’ Secondary School and Director of Vocations of the Diocese of Sekondi-Takoradi.
From 1992 to 1995 he studied at the Pontifical Liturgical Institute of St. Anselm in Rome where he obtained a Licentiate in Sacred Liturgy.
Upon his return to Ghana, he was appointed as Director of St. Kizito Pastoral and Catechetical Center at Apowa and Director of Sacred Liturgy of the Diocese of Senkondi-Takoradi from 1996 to 1998.
From 1998 to 2004, he was appointed formator and lecturer at St. Peter’s Regional Seminary, Cape Coast, where he taught Sacred Liturgy and Sacramental Theology.
From 2004 to 2014, Fr. Attakruh undertook a sabbatical and study leave. During this period he studied at St. John’s University, New York, USA, where he obtained a Master of Science in Educational Administration and Supervision of Instruction.
He also served in the Diocese of Rockville Center, New York, as Priest-Chaplain of Brookhaven Memorial Hospital and Medical Center, Patchogue, and as weekend Associate at St. John the Baptist Church in Wading, New York.
In 2015, then Father Attakruh was appointed Co-ordinator of the First Synod of the Diocese of Sekondi-Takoradi by Most Rev John Bonaventure Kwofie, the then Bishop of the Diocese.
Among the assignments he served in the Diocese from 2015 till he became a Bishop is being the Director of St. Kizito Pastoral and Catechetical Centre; Diocesan Biblical Apostolate; Catechesis; and Sacred Liturgy.
On July 31, 2020, Father Attakruh was nominated as the Apostolic Administrator of the Sekondi-Takoradi Diocese with all the rights and faculties of a Local Ordinary, a position he held until he was appointed the new Bishop of Sekondi-Takoradi Diocese on June 24, on the Solemnity of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist. He was ordained Bishop on September 24, 2021.
Most Rev. Matthew Yitiereh
Bishop Matthew Yitiereh was born on January 1, 1961 at Nandom Pina in the Upper West Region of Ghana.
He had his primary education at Baselb Primary School in the Upper West Region from 1969 to 1975.
For his secondary education, he entered St. Francis Xavier Minor Seminary, Wa, obtaining ‘O’ Level from 1976 to 1982, and proceeded to St. Hubert Minor Seminary, Kumasi for his ‘A’ Level from 1984 to 1986.
He had his philosophical and theological studies at the St. Victor’s Major Seminary, Tamale from 1987 to 1995.
Bishop Yitiereh was ordained into the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Tamale on 22nd July 1995 by Most Rev. Gregory E. Kpiebaya, the then Archbishop of Tamale.
His first appointment was to the Holy Spirit Parish at Chamba as Assistant Priest from 1995 to 1997. He was then appointed as Parish Priest for St. Peter and Paul Parish at Education Ridge from 1997 to 2002 and at the same time, he was the Archdiocesan Youth Chaplain.
He was also appointed as the Archdiocesan Master of Ceremonies from 1997 to 2009.
From 2002 to 2004, he took further studies in Ireland obtaining Master in Theology in Pastoral and specialised in Theology.
He also obtained a certificate in 2016 in Human Resource Management, Christian Organization for religious Advance Trust (CORAT) in Kenya.
Upon his return from Ireland, he was appointed Cathedral Administrator of the Our Lady of Annunciation Cathedral, Tamale from 2004 to 2015.
During those years, he also held different positions appointed or elected: President of the Tamale Archdiocesan Priests’ Association (2005-2010); Chairman of the Priests Senate and Assembly of Tamale Archdiocese (2005-2010); Chairman of Tamale Province Pastoral Conference (2005-2010); Chairman of TEPPCON Commission on Liturgy and Sacraments(2005-2010); Chaplain of the Christian Mothers’ Association of the Archdiocese (2007-2012); Board Chairman of Tamale Community Health Nurses Training School (2010-2015) and Chairman of the Local Organizing Committee of Cardinal Dery Beatification and Inauguration Process (2013-2015).
From 2011 to the present, Fr. Yitiereh was appointed the Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Tamale.
Among other assignments, he was : Dean of Tamale Central Deanery from 2005; Chairman, Archdiocesan Transport Committee from 2012; Board Chairman of Tamale Institute of Cross Cultural Studies (TICCS) and Member of the Archdiocesan Finance Committee from 2014.
From 2015 he served as the following: Episcopal Delegate of Cardinal Dery Beatification and Canonization Process; Human Resource Manager of Tamale Archdiocesan Catholic Secretariat; Chairman, Estates and Building Committee; Board Member, Catholic Guest House Limited.
From 2016, he was the Board Chairman of St. Charles Minor Seminary/High School and Priest In-Charge, Blessed Sacrament Chaplaincy. From 2019, he was a member of the Archdiocesan Records Management Committee.
Rev. Fr. Matthew Yitiereh is the Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Tamale until his appointment as Bishop-elect of the Catholic Diocese of Yendi on June 3, 2022. He was ordained a Bishop on August 20, 2022.
Most. Rev. Samuel Nkuah-Boateng
Bishop Samuel Nkuah-Boateng was born on 6 May 1968 in Sefwi Bosomoiso. After attending Saint Teresa’s Minor Seminary in Elmina, in the archdiocese of Cape Coast, and Saint Peter’s Regional Major Seminary in Cape Coast, he obtained a bachelor’s degree in sociology and religious studies from the University of Ghana.
He was ordained a priest on 28 July for the Diocese of Wiawso.
After ordination, he held the following offices: parish vicar of the Immaculate Conception, in Enchi (2001-2003); secretary to the bishop of Wiawso (2003-2008); rector of Saint Mary’s, in Dwinase (2003-2009); parish priest of Saint Augustine in Sefwi Boako (2009-2011); director of the pastoral and formation centre (2009-2018); administrator of the Cathedral of Wiawso (2011-2018);
And president of the Association of Diocesan Priests (2012-2020). He then studied for a master’s degree in pastoral ministry and religious education at the Catholic University of Ghana (2015-2017), and a master’s degree in philosophy (2018-2020).
Since 2009 he has been a member of the College of Consultors and the Presbyteral College; since 2020, he has served as director of the Centre for Pastoral Ministry and Formation, coordinator of the Diocesan Commission for Justice and Peace, and administrator of the Cathedral of Wiawso.
He was named a Bishop on January 26, 2023 and ordained on April 21, 2023.
Most Rev. Anthony Narh Asare
Most Rev. Anthony Narh is the fifth born of eight children to Mr. Lawrence Ebenezer Asare-Kwao and Mrs. Helen Teiko Asare-Kwao Kwao (née, Opata; deceased on Friday, 7th August 2020). He was born on 29th December 1965 at the St. Martin de Porres Clinic at Agormanya OdumaseKrobo in the Eastern Region of Ghana.
He was baptised by Rev. Fr. G. Wilson, SVD on 16th January 1966 at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church at Agormanya.
BASIC EDUCATION, FIRST COMMUNION AND CONFIRMATION
Msgr. Asare began his primary education at the Tema Community 2 No. 4 Basic School and proceeded to the Star Kindergarten and Primary School at Tema Community 5. His family worshipped at the Good Shepherd Parish, Tema Community 2 where he received his first Holy Communion on 8th April 1973 in the hands of Rev. Fr. H. Janssen, SVD. He received the Sacrament of Confirmation on 5th May, 1973 administered by then Rt. Rev. Dominic KodwoAndoh, Bishop of Accra Diocese.
SECONDARY EDUCATION
He had his secondary education at the Tema Secondary School from 1978 to 1983 where he successfully obtained his GCE O’ level and his A’ level at the Labone Secondary School in Accra from 1983 to 1985.
THE CALL
His call to the Ministry came in diverse ways. First as a National Service Teacher, then as an Insurance Officer working with the Marketing Department of the Great African Insurance Company. He was also dealing with Catechumens as a part-time Catechist with the Sisters Servants of the Holy Spirit (SSpS) in the Parish on various apostolates and finally through interactions with young energetic Priests who worked in the Parish.
SEMINARY FORMATION
He began his Seminary formation at the Sowutuom Philosophy Campus in September 1988. He joined the second batch of pioneers to begin the Spirituality programme introduced to Seminary formation in Ghana. Having spent a year of Spirituality formation and two years of philosophical training, he proceeded to the St. Peter’s Seminary in Pedu, Cape Coast in 1991 to continue his four-year Theological education. In 1993, he obtained his Diploma in Theology at the University of Ghana, Legon.
He was ordained a Priest on 22nd July 1995 for the Clergy of Accra by Archbishop Dominic Kodwo Andoh at the St. Joseph the Worker Parish at Tema Community 8.
PASTORAL MINISTRY
As part of his pastoral works and experiences, from 1995 to 1997, he was the Assistant Priest of Martyrs of Uganda Catholic Church at Mambrobi; Priest-in-charge of Sacred Heart Parish at Derby Avenue from 1997 to 1999; Priest-in-charge of St. Peter’s Parish, Osu from 1999 to 2004 and Priest-in-charge of St. Maroun Ghanaian Community, now St. James the Elder Catholic Church, Osu, Accra from 2004 to 2008.
He was the Parish Chaplain of St. Andrews Catholic Church, Westland Row, Dublin in Ireland from 2008 to 2012; Pastoral Assistant at the Mary Mother of Good Counsel, Airports West in 2013; Parish Priest of St. Joseph the Worker Parish at Community 8, Tema from 2013 to 2019; Parish Priest of Ss. Anne and Joachim Catholic Church and Director of Priest Personnel, Accra Archdiocese from 2019 to the date of his appointment as Auxiliary Bishop.
APOSTOLATES
Between 1995 and 1997, he was Chaplain of St. Mary’s Secondary School at Korle Gonno as well as Spiritual Director of the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary (FMM) Centre of Hope. From 1996 to 1997, he served as the Spiritual Director for the Daughters of Mary Mother of Mercy (DMMM) Catholic Press Community. Between 1997 and 1999, he was the Spiritual Director of the Religious of the Virgin Mary (RVM) Wala Hamo Project; Board Chair of the Catholic Action for Street Children (CAS) from 1997 to 2008.
From 2002 to 2006, he was a member of the Board of Directors of Accra Catholic Press, Accra; 2002 to 2008, he served as the Accra Archdiocesan Financial Administrator/Director of Pontifical Mission Societies/Secretary to the Archdiocesan Development Committee; from 2013 to 2019, he was the Spiritual Director for the Missionaries of Charity Sisters, Tema; Notre Dame L’Eglise (NDE) Sisters from Togo; and the Congregation of Holy Family Sisters, Kordiabe.
He was a Part-time Lecturer at the Department of Religious Studies and Church Administration at the Catholic Institute of Business and Technology (CIBT), Accra from 2019 to2021 while from 2018 to 2021, he served as a member of the Governing Council of CIBT.
From 2022 to the date of his appointment as Auxiliary Bishop, he was a member Governing Board of the Christ the King International School, Cantonments.
POST-SEMINARY STUDIES
In November 1995, he obtained a Certificate in Management Skills from the Price Waterhouse Associates, Human Resources Development Unit, Legon, Accra and a Certificate in Financial Management from the Management Development and Productivity Institute, Accra, Ghana in 2002.
In same 2002, he obtained Certificates in Financial Accounting, Budgeting Control, Financial Accounting for non-finance Managers, Office Management and Administration, Effective Administrative Skills and Internal Auditing, all from the Management Development and Productivity Institute, Accra, Ghana.
He holds Degrees and Certificates including, MA in Management from the Dublin City University (DCU) in Ireland from 2008 to 2009; MA in Leadership and Pastoral Care from DCU from 2009 to 2010; Masters in Supervisory Practice (MASP) at DCU from 2010 to 2012.
In 2012, he obtained Certificates in Reflective Ministry, Project Management and Public Relations at the All Hallows’ University, Ireland.
Anthony chose for his priestly motto excerpts of an ancient Christian hymn namely “A charge to keep I have, a God to Glorify and to serve the present age my calling to fulfill”.
He was appointed Auxiliary Bisop on 14th February, 2023 and ordained Bishop on April 19, 2023.
Most Rev. John Kobina Louis
John Kobina Louis is the second born of Mr. Vincent Louis and Mrs. Catherine Esi Dede Louis (née, Mensah; deceased on 26th September 2015). He was born on Tuesday, 24th November 1964, in Accra and baptized on 3rd January 1965 at the Holy Spirit Cathedral by the late Very Rev. Fr. Charles Schneider, SVD.
In the 1969/1970 academic year, John attended King’s Royal School, Nima, for his pre-school education. He, then, proceeded to the Nima Roman Catholic School for his basic education from 1970 to 1978. Together with his parents and siblings, he belonged to St. Kizito Parish, where he received his First Holy Communion and was confirmed by the then Bishop of Accra, Rt. Rev. Dominic Andoh.
In 1978, John passed his Common Entrance Examination and gained admission to St. Augustine’s College (AUGUSCO) in Cape Coast. While in AUGUSCO, he aspired to pursue the BSc. Civil Engineering Programme at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (Kumasi), so that he could work with his father who was a contractor. In line with this aspiration, John read Science at AUGUSCO. Mathematics, Additional Mathematics and Physics were his favourite subjects. As a student of AUGUSCO, he successfully passed the General Certificate of Education (GCE) Ordinary Level and Advanced Level Examinations in 1983 and 1985 respectively.
THE CALL TO PRIESTLY SERVICE
In God’s infinite goodness and providence, He calls Priests, Religious Brothers and Sisters even before their births (cf. Jer. 1:4-5). In the course of time, then, God uses diverse ways to draw their attention to His calling. Thus, it was not until his last year in AUGUSCO that John’s attention was drawn to the call to the priesthood. This is how it all started. John had gone to visit his friend, Johnson Detty, but met his absence. While waiting for him, the latter’s mother, Mrs. Georgina Detty, engaged John in a conversation. Having mentioned her observations about John, she asked whether he wanted to become a Priest. “No, Mummy!’ was his immediate response. She then told him to think and pray about the matter. This was to be the beginning of two years (1984 – 1986) of reflection and prayers to discern whether God was calling him or not.
Subsequently, John consulted his Parish Priest, Msgr. Alex Bobby-Benson as well as his College Chaplain, the late Msgr. Gabriel Mensah, in his process of discerning God’s call. Upon the completion of his studies at AUGUSCO, he was advised by his Parish Priest to do his national service while the discernment process continued. He did his national service at the Laboratory Unit of the then Ghana Water and Sewerage Corporation (now Ghana Water Company), at Mile 4, Accra, from September 1985 to August 1986. In the course of his national service, he finally decided to go to the seminary to pursue the formation and training of priests.
SEMINARY FORMATION, STUDIES AND ORDINATIONS
He was admitted to the St. Peter’s Seminary, Pedu, Cape Coast in September 1986. While in the third year in the Seminary, he and some of his mates were enrolled as the first batch of students to pursue the BA in Religious Studies and Sociology Programme at the University of Ghana, Legon. He obtained his BA (Legon) in 1991 and completed his priestly formation and training at St. Peter’s Seminary in June 1992.
On 11th July 1991, John and five other candidates of the then Accra Diocese were ordained as Deacons by the then Rt. Rev. Dominic Andoh at the Holy Family Catholic Church, Mataheko. The same Bishop ordained them as Priests on 18th July 1992 at the St. Mary Catholic Church, Asamankese. As the guiding Biblical text for his priestly life and ministry, John chose 1 Cor. 9:16, 27. He paraphrased it as follows: Lord, I could not resist your call to preach the Gospel. May I, therefore, discipline myself, lest after preaching to others, I myself be disqualified.
PASTORAL MINISTRY AND TEACHING APOSTOLATE
From 1992 to 1995, he was the Assistant Priest of Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church, Tema Community 1 and was responsible for the outstations: St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church, Tema Community 8; St. Peter’s Church, Tema New Town; and St. Michael’s Church, Michel Camp.
For the same period from 1992 to 1995, he was the Archdiocesan Chaplain of the Sea Apostolate in Tema and Youth Chaplain of the Tema-Battor Deanery. From 1995 to 2002, he was the Priest-in-Charge and Parish Priest, St. Joseph the Worker Church, Tema Community 8 (Outstations: All Saints Church, Community 11, Tema; St. John Church, Prampram; and St. Dominic Church, Dawhenya)
From 1996 to 2002, he was the Financial Administrator of Accra Archdiocese and the Director, of Archdiocesan Pontifical Mission Societies, Accra; from 1997 to 2002, Director, of Archdiocesan Pastoral Centre, Accra; 1998 to 2002 and 2016 to 2020, he served as the Spiritual Director, Handmaids of the Divine Redeemer Sisters, Christ the King and Generalate Communities.
He was an Associate Cathedral Administrator, Holy Spirit Cathedral, Accra from 2004 to 2006with Outstations: Immaculate Conception Church, Akweteman; St. Joseph the Worker Church, Weija; and St. Peter Church, Tettegu and from 2006 to 2012, he was the Administrator of the Holy Spirit Cathedral, Accra.
From 2008 to 2014, he was a part-time lecturer at the Department of Religious Studies and Church Administration at the Catholic Institute of Business and Technology (CIBT), Accra; from 2014 to 2020, Full- time Lecturer and Academic Dean, CIBT; from 2014 to 2023, Pastoral Assistant at the Mary Mother of Good Counsel Church, Airport West Area and from 2017 to 2018, Acting President of CIBT.
From July to November 2021, he was Priest-in-Charge, St. Jude Catholic Church, New Weija. From 2019 to his appointment as Auxiliary Bishop, he was the Vicar General, Accra Archdiocese.
COUNCILS. BOARDS, COMMITTEES AND ASSOCIATIONS
Msgr. Louis has also served in various capacities on Councils, Boards, Committees and Associations in the Archdiocese and elsewhere.
From 1996 to 2002, he was a member of the Board of Directors, Accra Catholic Press, Accra;
1996 to 2002, Financial Secretary, National Union of Ghana Diocesan Priests’ Associations;
1997 to 2002, 2006-Present, member, Council of Priests, Accra.
From 1997 to 2002, 2006 to 2014, 2019-Present, he has been a member of the College of Consultors, Accra;
2003 to 2004, President of the Ecclesiastical Union of Ghanaian Students in Rome;
2005 to 2010, member of the Board of Directors, Millennium Guest House Ltd (Holy Spirit Cathedral)
He was Chairman of the Archdiocesan Catechetical Commission, Accra from 2006 to 2010;
President, National Union of Ghana Diocesan Priests’ Associations from 2007 to 2011;
Member & Chairman (2017-18), Academic Board, CIBT, 2010 to 2020; Chairman, Congregation Planning Committee, CIBT from 2014 to 2020.
Between 2015 and 2018, Msgr. Louis served as Chairman of, the Graduate Programme Management Committee, CIBT;
2015 to 2020, Chairman of, the Faculty Board & Examination Committee, CIBT; and from 2015 to 2020, Member & Chairman (2017-18), Management Committee, CIBT.
From 2016 to 2020, he was the President of the Society of Catholic Social Scientists (Ghana Chapter);
2017 to 2018, Chairman of, the Academic Quality Assurance Committee, CIBT.
2017 to 2020, Member, Governing Council, CIBT.
POST-SEMINARY STUDIES
Besides his participation In the Ongoing Formation Programmes for Priests of the Accra Archdiocese, Msgr. Louis pursued further studies. From October 2010 to June 2014, he did his Ph.D. in the Study of Religions (with a thesis in the field of Ecclesiology) at the University of Ghana, Legon. From September, 2002 to June, 2004, he had his Licentiate in Dogmatic Theology (STL), from the Pontificia Universitas Urbaniana, Rome. From April 1996 to May 1996, he pursued a Certificate Course in Financial Management and Budgeting, at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), Accra.