Married men of good standing can now be ordained deacons in Ghana’s Accra Archdiocese

The Catholic Archdiocese of Accra has formally instituted the Permanent Diaconate, allowing married men of good standing to be ordained as deacons to assist with liturgical, sacramental, and charitable duties across the Archdiocese.

The announcement, released by the Office of the Metropolitan Archbishop, comes after wide consultations with the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference, the College of Consultors, the Priests’ Council, and the Archdiocesan Pastoral Council.

Most Rev. John Bonaventure Kwofie, C.S.Sp., Archbishop of Accra, said the decision is rooted in the pastoral realities of the Archdiocese and the Church’s mission to serve more effectively.

“The institution of the Permanent Diaconate will help provide liturgical and charitable services in communities where catechists and designated laypersons already serve,” he said. “It will also ensure an official and sacramental presence of the Church in areas of secular life.”

The Permanent Diaconate, restored following the Second Vatican Council, is a distinct ordained ministry that allows lay men, especially those living in stable Christian marriages, to serve in roles that support priests, particularly in parishes where clergy are stretched thin.

In explaining the requirements for candidates, Archbishop Kwofie said applicants must be “men who have sound faith, are motivated by the right intention, are endowed with the requisite knowledge, enjoy a good reputation, and have moral probity, proven virtue, and the other physical and psychological qualities appropriate to the order to be received.”

In addition to spiritual maturity, candidates must also exhibit strong human qualities, including “psychological maturity, capacity for dialogue and communication, sense of responsibility, industriousness, equilibrium, and prudence.”

To be eligible, a candidate must have lived at least 10 years in a valid sacramental marriage and demonstrated the ability to lead a Christian family. Their wives and children, according to the Archdiocese, must be of “good reputation” and live a “truly Christian life.”

Only men who have been active members of the Archdiocese for a minimum of 10 years and have shown a longstanding commitment to the apostolate will be considered. Candidates may maintain professional work provided it is compatible with the diaconal state.

Each parish is permitted to recommend only one candidate. Final selection will be made by the Archbishop in consultation with the Director of Formation and a Formation Team assigned to guide the process.

The Archbishop stressed that the introduction of permanent deacons is not a replacement for priests but a way to enhance the Church’s pastoral presence and strengthen its mission of service.

“With this, I wish to solicit the prayers of all clergy, religious and faithful for the successful implementation of the order of Permanent Deacons in the Archdiocese of Accra, to the greater glory of God and the service of the faithful,” he said.

The move aligns with growing trends in dioceses around the world, particularly in Africa, where the permanent diaconate is being introduced to support rapidly expanding Catholic populations, strengthen community outreach, and ensure the consistent administration of sacraments and pastoral care.