GHANA: Pope Appoints New Bishop of Wiawso

By CISA

WIAWSO, JANUARY 27, 2023 (CISA)-Pope Francis has appointed Fr Samuel Nkuah-Boateng as bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Wiawso.

Fr Nkuah-Boateng who until his appointment was the administrator of the St. Joseph Cathedral, Wiawso, takes over from Bishop Joseph Kweki Essien, 77, the founding prelate of the diocese, which was established in 1999.

The bishop-elect was born on May 6, 1968, in Sefwi Bosomoiso. He attended St. Teresa’s Minor Seminary in Elmina, in the Catholic Archdiocese of Cape Coast, and St. Peter’s Regional Major Seminary in Cape Coast and further obtained a bachelor’s degree in sociology and religious studies from the University of Ghana.

He was ordained a priest on July 28, 2001, for the diocese of Wiawso.

He has previously served as a 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 holds a master’s degree in pastoral ministry and religious education from 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.