Rt. Rev. Ofori-Akyea inducted as Bishop of Methodist Church, Tema Diocese

The Methodist Church, Ghana has inducted into office the Right Rev. Samuel Ofori-Akyea as the new Bishop of the Tema Diocese.

Bishop Ofori-Akyea’s elevation followed his election by majority votes by the Synod of the Tema Diocese in 2018.

His mandate as Bishop is for six years.

The colourful ceremony, which took place at the St Paul’s Methodist Church, Tema, saw the hierarchy of the church, including the Most Rev. Dr Paul Kwabena Boafo, the Presiding Bishop of the church, who performed the induction, in attendance.

New tenure

Rt Rev. Ofori-Akyea, the fifth Bishop to lead the Tema Diocese, succeeds Rt Rev. Thomas Brown Forson, who has proceeded on retirement.

Inducting the new Bishop into office, the Most Rev. Dr Boafo asked the Rt Rev. Ofori-Akyea whether he was ready, with all faithful diligence, to banish and drive away all erroneous and strange doctrines contrary to God's Word and maintain and set forth the Gospel and sound teaching which God had, in all ages, blessed to the salvation of humanity.

Responding, Rt Rev. Ofori-Akyea said he gladly accepted the office of Bishop with humility, resolving to serve faithfully the congregation and the people of the Tema Diocese.

Leadership

In his sermon, the Presiding Bishop said the church required strong leadership in the effort to sustain its growth and called on the new Bishop to use his position effectively to bring great joy.

 He also called on the congregants to use their image as Methodists to cause change and transformation in society.

 Rt Rev. Ofori-Akyea, in an interview, said one of his key visions was to expand the evangelism outreaches of the Tema Diocese to the Volta and the Oti regions and give the church a much bigger presence in those parts of the country.

Rt Rev. Ofori-Akyea was born on November 1, 1955. Before he entered the ordained ministry, he was a trained teacher. Prior to his appointment as Bishop of the Tema Diocese, he had served the church for 32 years in various capacities, including as Supt Minister of the Bolgatanga Circuit, the Kaneshie North Circuit and the Tema North Circuit, Director for the Children's Ministry at the Methodist Conference Office and Synod Secretary of the Tema Diocese.