GHANA: Pope Appoints Two Auxiliary Bishops for the Archdiocese of Accra

By Paschal Norbert

ACCRA, FEBRUARY 14,2023 (CISA)Pope Francis has appointed Fr John Kobina Louis and Fr Anthony Narh Asare, priests of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Accra, Ghana, as auxiliary bishops in an announcement made by the Holy See Press on February 14, 2023.

“The Holy Father has appointed the following as auxiliary bishops of the metropolitan archdiocese of Accra, Ghana: the Reverend John Kobina Louis, of the clergy of Accra, vicar general of the archdiocese of Accra, assigning him the titular see of Fesseë, and the Reverend Anthony Narh Asare, of the clergy of the same archdiocese, until now parish priest of Saints Anne and Joachim in Teshie, assigning him the titular see of Castellum in Numidia,” the statement read in part.

Fr John Kobina Louis was born on November 24, 1964, in Accra. He completed his studies in philosophy and theology at the St. Peter Major Seminary in Pedu.

Following ordination, he first held the offices of parish vicar of Our Lady of Mercy, Tema (1992-1995); parish administrator of St. Joseph the Worker, Tema (1995-1998); parish priest of Saint Joseph the Worker, Tema (1998-2002). After studying for a licentiate in religious studies and sociology at the Catholic University College of Ghana (1998-1991), he served as bursar of the Catholic Archdiocese of Accra (1996-2002) and director of the Pastoral Centre (1997-2002).

He was then awarded a licentiate in dogmatic theology at the Pontifical Urban University, Rome (2002-2004) and went on to serve as parish vicar of the Holy Spirit Cathedral (2004-2006); administrator of the Holy Spirit Cathedral (2006-2012); president of the National Union of Ghanese Diocesan Priests Association (NUGDPA) (2007-2011); academic dean and lecturer of the Catholic Institute of Business and Technology (CIBT) (2014-2020); acting president of the CIBT (2017-2018) and, since 2019, vicar general of the Catholic Archdiocese of Accra.

Fr Anthony Narh Asare was born on September 29, 1965, in Odumase-Krobo, in the Eastern Region of Ghana. After attending the Pope John Senior High School and Minor Seminary in Koforidua, he completed his studies in philosophy at St. Paul’s Seminary in Sowutuom and theology at St. Paul’s Seminary in Pedu.

He was ordained a priest on July 22, 1995, for the Catholic Archdiocese of Accra.

Following ordination, he first served as parish vicar of Martyrs of Uganda, in Mambrobi (1995-1997); head of the Sacred Heart in Derby Avenue (1997-1999); parish vicar of Saint Peter’s in Osu (1995-2005); bursar of the archdiocese of Accra (2002-2008); and parish vicar of Saint Maroun’s in Tema (2005-2008). He then studied at All Hallow’s College in Dublin, Ireland, where he obtained a Master of Arts degree in management, a Master of Arts in leadership and pastoral care, and a Master of Arts in Supervisory Practice (2008-2012). He went on to serve as parish priest of St. Joseph the Worker in Tema (2013-2019); and since 2019, parish priest of Sts. Anne and Joachim in Teshie and head of the priestly personnel in the Catholic Archdiocese of Accra.