Most Rev. John Yaw Afoakwah (the new bishop), being ordained by (from left) the Apostolic Nuncio to Ghana, Most Rev. Jean-Marie Speich, the Metropolitan Archbishop of Kumasi, Most Rev. Gabriel Yaw Anokye, and the Archbishop Emeritus II of Kumasi, Most Rev. Thomas Kweku Mensah.

Most Rev. John Afoakwah installed Bishop of Obuasi Diocese

Kwadwo Baffoe Donkor Jan - 15 - 2015 , 01:02

The Most Reverend John Yaw Afoakwah has been ordained and installed as the third Bishop of the Obuasi Diocese of the Catholic Church.

He takes over from the Most Rev Gabriel Justice Yaw Anokye, who is currently the Archbishop of Kumasi.

The Episcopal ordination, which took place at the Obuasi Len Clay Sports Stadium last Saturday, was attended by all members of the Ghana Catholic Bishops Conference, traditional leaders, priests and religious leaders from all over the country and the Apostolic Nuncio to Ghana, the Most Rev Jean-Piere Speich.

Also in attendance were members of the Knights and Ladies of Marshall, the Knights of St John’s International and Ladies Auxiliary, the Catholic Organisation for Social and Religious Advancement, Papal Knights and Dames and other organised groups within the Catholic Church.

The principal consecrator, the Most Rev. Anokye, was assisted by the Most Rev. Speich and the Most Rev. Thomas Kwaku Mensah, the Archbishop Emeritus II of Kumasi.

Homily

Preaching the homily, the Archbishop Emeritus of Kumasi, the Most Rev. Peter Akwasi Sarpong, advised leaders of churches not to try to please everyone but instead have good conscience, try to help their subordinates and do the will of God.

He said those who tried to please everybody might not succeed in their ministry, as it was impossible to please everyone.

Challenges ahead

He advised the new bishop to be prepared for the challenges ahead of him.

“You will be dealing with priests who know better than you do; priests who have answers to all questions, priests for whom the bishop is an ignoramus.

“You will be dealing with priests who will report you to funding agencies that you have embezzled money meant for them for development.

“Some of your priests, again (thank God only a few), will be a bad influence on young, innocent priests and, unfortunately, even on innocent Lay Men and Women,” he said.

The Most Rev. Sarpong asked the new bishop not to despair when faced with such challenges.

Instead, he asked him to meet and listen to those priests and be comforted by the words of the Lord, who said, “Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely because of me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven. Thus they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

Gratitude

In his installation address, the Most Rev. Afoakwah was grateful to the Pope for the confidence reposed in him by selecting him to lead the people of God in the diocese.

He was also grateful to the people of the diocese and his predecessors for laying the foundation for him to build on.

Most Rev. Afoakwah made his first appointment by assigning Rev. Father John Kwadwo Agyekum as the new Vicar-General of the diocese.