Bishop Kwofie appointed new Catholic Archbishop of Accra

Pope Francis has appointed the Most Reverend Bishop John Bonaventure Kwofie as the new Catholic Archbishop of the Accra.

Archbishop Kwofie until his appointment was the Bishop of Sekondi-Takoradi in the Western Region.

Archbishop Kwofie replaces Archbishop Charles Palmer-Buckle who is now the Archbishop of Cape Coast in the Central Region.

Reverend Father Lazarus Anondee, the Secretary General of the Catholic Bishop’s Conference, at a press briefing explained that the appointment was announced by the Most Reverend Pavol Talakpa, Secretary to the Apostolic Nuncio, Ghana.

In an interview with the Ghana News Agency in Accra, Reverend Anondee said Archbishop Kwofie’s appointment takes effect from January 2, 2019 and he would take canonical possession of the Archdiocese of Accra within two months.

He said so far no Bishop has been appointed to the Sekondi-Takoradi Diocese as at the time of the press briefing, so in the interim, Archbishop Kwofie would act as the Apostolic Administrator of Secondi-Takoradi Diocese until a substantive bishop is appointed.

Most Reverend Kwofie awas born on 26 April, 1958.  He is a native of Apowa in the Sekondi Takoradi Diocese and attended the St. Theresa's Minor Seminary, Amisano.

He also attended the Spiritan Postulancy St. John XXIII Seminary Ebolowa, Cameroon and was ordained a priest of the Holy Catholic Church on July 23, 1988 after his priestly training.

Most Reverend Kwofie received his Bachelor’s Degree in theology from Paul’s College-Seminary in Liberia/ Urbaniana University in Rome and continued his studies in pastoral leadership formation at Lumko Institute, South Africa.

He also went for further studies at the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome.

Most Reverend Kwofie belongs to the Congregation of Holy Spirit, a Catholic religious mission group. He twice served as Provincial Superior of the Congregation for West Africa, between 1995 and 2001.

He was also the first assistant to the Superior General of the congregation until 2012.

Most Reverend Kwofie succeeds the late Most Reverend John Martin Darko, who resigned on health grounds on December 14, 2011 and died on January 12, 2013.

Most Reverend Kwofie is the fourth Bishop of the Sekondi/ Takoradi Diocese of the church.

From 1995 to 1998, Most Reverend Kwofie was the Vice Chairman of the Conference of Major Superiors of Men and served as its President for two terms from 1998 to 2004.

Most Reverend Kwofie was elected Co-ordinator of the Continental Conference of Major Religious Superiors in Africa from 2003 to 2005.

His experience is rooted in his roles as an academic, a pastor and a leader in his congregation.

Most Reverend Kwofie has served in various capacities as assistant priest and lecturer at the Pontifical Bible Institute in Rome.

Since his Licentiate in Sacred Scriptures in 1995, Most Reverend Kwofie has spent most of his time in the ministry of leadership in the Spiritan Congregation, either at the provincial level or at the congregational level.

His pastoral work has touched parishes in Bohyen Bamtama, the Archdiocese of Kumasi and the Archdiocese of Accra.

Additionally, he has done pastoral and missionary work in The Gambia and between 1996 and 2003, he taught at the Spiritan International School of Theology in Nigeria, an affiliate institute of Duquesne University, lecturing on Biblical Theology to MA students.

Most Reverend Kwofie has served in a variety of leadership roles with the Spiritan Congregation.