AKATSI MARCH 17, 2017 (CISA) – Pope Francis has appointed Fr Gabriel Kumordji as the new Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Keta-Akatsi situated in the Volta Region.
Until his appointment March 16, Fr Kumordji of the Divine Word Missionaries (SVD), was serving as Apostolic Vicar of Ghana’s Donkorkrom Vicariate.
He succeeds Bishop Anthony Adanuty, who resigned last year after reaching the canonical retiring age limit of 75.
Bishop Emmanuel Fianu (SVD) of Ho diocese has been the Apostolic Administrator of Keta-Akatsi Diocese.
Apostolic Nuncio to Ghana, Archbishop Jean-Marie Speich made the announcement at the Christ the King Cathedral, Akatsi, March 16 in the presence of Bishops Kumordji, Fianu and Adanuty as well as the Priests, Religious and a section of the lay faithful.
Bishop Kumordji who will be turning 61 on March 24 will still be in charge of Donkorkrom Vicariate until a new Apostolic Vicar is appointed.
The new Bishop-Elect was born in Accra, Ghana as the fifth son of Leonard and Severina Kumordji.
Bishop Kumordji had his Primary Education at the Sacred Heart Parish in Accra and middle School at Mamprobi Sempe 7 at Mamprobi in Accra, and Secondary Education at St. Thomas Aquinas School in Accra.
After his Secondary Education, he undertook philosophical studies at St Victor’s Major Seminary in Tamale (1976-79) and joined the Society of Divine Word (SVD) Novitiate in 1979 and professed the first Vows on September 8, 1980 at St. George’s Parish in Koforidua.
From 1980 to 1983, he did his Theological Studies at the same Major Seminary in Tamale.
After one year of pastoral experience in the Sunyani Diocese, he took his final Vows on September 8, 1984 at the Sacred Heart Parish at Derby Avenue.
He was ordained Priest by Bishop Dominic Andoh, the then Bishop of Accra on July 14, 1985.
His Priestly ministry began in St. Augustine Church at Asesewa from 1985to1988, St Maria Goretti Church at Battor from 1988-1991 as Associate Pastor before undertaking a Master’s Degree in Pastoral Missiology at the Loyola University in Chicago from1991-1993.
On June 22, 2005, Bishop Kumordji was elected and appointed the Provincial Superior of the SVD and President of the Conference of Superiors of Men Religious in Ghana.
