The National Catholic Laity Council (NCLC) of Ghana has elected new leaders at its 46th Plenary Assembly held at the St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Chaplaincy of the University of Ghana, Legon.
The plenary assembly, which also coincided with the climax of the 50th Anniversary Celebrations of the Council, was attended by representatives from all 20 Arch/dioceses, Vicariate and Lay Associations in Ghana.
The event was graced by the Most Rev. John Bonaventure Kwofie, CSSp, Metropolitan Archbishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Accra and the Most Rev. John Alphonse Asiedu, SVD, Bishop of the Apostolic Vicariate of Donkorkrom, who are both the Episcopal Co-chairs for Laity.
Also present were the Most Rev. John Kobina Louis, one of the Auxiliary Bishops of the Catholic Archdiocese of Accra, Very Rev. Fr. Clement Adjei, Secretary-General of the National Catholic Secretariat, Very Rev. Fr. Gabriel Kojovi Liashiedzi, Executive Secretary for the Department of Pastoral Ministry & Evangelization and National Chaplain of the Laity Council, Laity Chaplains from the various Archdioceses and other invited dignitaries.
The Plenary Assembly, which is organised yearly aims to evaluate the previous year’s performance, plan for the current year and launch the Laity Study Booklet for the year.
During this year’s plenary assembly, Sir Prof. Elias N. K. Sowley’s administration handed over to newly elected leaders to take over for the next 3 years.
John Kofi Tandoh, new chairman for the National Catholic Laity Council of Ghana is from the Catholic Archdiocese of Kumasi and holds a Master of Science degree in Industrial Chemistry from KNUST and an Executive Master of Business Administration (Entrepreneurial Management) from the University of Ghana.
He has been actively involved in various pastoral activities in the church since 1970, rising through the ranks in IMCS Pax Romana Ghana Federation and the Ghana National Catholic Youth Council (GHANCYC).
He has co-authored the annual Laity study booklet of the National Catholic Laity Council (NCLC) since 2010, and he is a core facilitator of the Biblical Apostolate and Marriage and Family Life Ministries in the Catholic Archdiocese of Kumasi.
He was recently appointed the Synod Secretary for the 4th Kumasi Archdiocesan Synod in November 2024, making him the first lay person to serve in that capacity in Ghana.
Other new executives include, Emmanuel Kwamena Salia, National Vice Chair and Cape Coast Provincial Chair, Michael Djan, National Vice Chair and Accra Provincial Chair, Ernest Richard Amankwah, National Vice Chair and Kumasi Provincial Chair, Dickson Anamoo Akurigo, National Vice Chair and Tamale Provincial Chair, Tamara Amina Sulemana, National Recording Secretary and Emmanuel Agyeman-Prempeh, National Financial Secretary
They took their oath of office, which was administered by the Bishop Asiedu, SVD during the closing Mass of the Plenary assembly held on April 26, 2025.
