The Priests, Religious and lay faithful are still expressing joy and gratitude to the Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, for elevating the Donkorkrom Vicariate to the status of a diocese with the appointment of the Most Rev. John Alphonse Asiedu, SVD, as its first Bishop.
The May 12, 2026, historic pronouncement, which was done by the Chief Shepherd himself, on the occasion of his birthday, on behalf of the Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop Julien Kabore, happened inside the St. Francis Xavier Cathedral, Donkorkrom, where the Priests, Consecrated Persons and Lay Faithful had gathered to listen to the Bishop’s message, following an urgent invitation the previous night.
To the expectant and attentive audience, the “emotional” Bishop Asiedu read the letter of his appointment, addressed to him by the Nuncio, who could not be there in person for obvious reasons.
In a spirit of gratitude, the newly appointed Bishop appreciated his co-workers in these words: “I thank every one of you, because you have all worked very hard. It is through your love, your cooperation and collaboration, your dedication and selflessness that people have witnessed the growth of the faith in the Apostolic Vicariate of Donkorkrom, and today, the Holy Father has raised the Vicariate to the status of a Diocese; the newest Diocese in Ghana.”
Thanking God for raising the Vicariate to a “very special position,” the Chief Shepherd saw it as an invitation for more work – “we have more work to do now as a Diocese,” he buttressed, counting on the continuous collaboration and dedication of his flock.
He thanked everyone for coming, despite the very short notice, and promised to announce the date for the installation proper once it was decided upon by the Stakeholders.
The Priests, Religious and Lay faithful gathered, welcomed the Bishop’s message with a thunderous applause and great excitement, and all took turns to congratulate the First Bishop of Donkorkrom Diocese, either with a handshake or a hug. This exercise culminated in the chanting of a Birthday song for him, by all, led by the Cathedral Administrator, Very Rev. Fr. Bernard Adjei Appiah, SVD.
Speaking to the Diocesan Department of Social Communication (DEPSOCOM) after the audience, the newly appointed Bishop Asiedu shared the joy brought about by the change of Ecclesiastical status, saying that it will go a long way to answer the long-standing question of “When will Donkorkrom Vicariate become a Diocese?” posed by several faithful.
Further affirming the fact that raising Donkorkrom to a Diocese is a recognition that the faith is flourishing in the Afram Plains, the Bishop expressed with confidence that the good news will spur all, including the laity, Priests and Religious, the Catechists; all stakeholders, to come together and put in their best, and be able to do what God wills for His people, and draw the rest who have not yet come to the “sheepfold”.
Sr. Joy Abuh, of the Congregation of the Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary (MSHR), who has worked in the Vicariate for the past 15 years, and witnessed the elevation of the Donkorkrom Prefecture to an Apostolic Vicariate, and now to a Diocese, amidst many challenges, expressed that it was a great joy. “I am thrilled and happy being a living witness to this,” she rejoiced, remarking with pride that when next she travels for a meeting outside the Diocese, she will, like others say, that she is coming from the Catholic ‘Diocese’ of Donkorkrom.
Though joyful news for the Diocese, the Missionary Sister expressed the fear that some privileges the Vicariate used to enjoy from the benevolence of individuals and groups from other Dioceses, because they were a “baby” Church, may henceforth be denied, since they too have become a Diocese, and expected to stand on their own.
Acknowledging that much more will be expected of them as a Diocese, Sr. Abuh was optimistic that all Priests, Religious and lay faithful will be able to sit up and work harder to maintain the standard already set, and see to the growth of the local Church, while trusting in Divine Providence.
Speaking for the Laity, Md. Esther Fenuku, a Parishioner of St. Mary Mother of God, Adeemmra, expressed deep joy for the news, but being cognisant of the deprived reality of the Afram Plains, she wondered if they were really able to stand on their own.
She, however, shared with hope that they will work harder, rally themselves and give to their Bishop the necessary support, and all will go well with them.
The announcement of Bishop Asiedu as the first Bishop of Donkorkrom, as well as the elevation of the Vicariate to a Diocese, was published at the Vatican on the same day, May 12, 2026, at 12:00 noon (10:00 am local time) and also at the Ghana National Catholic Secretariat.
Some information about the New Diocese
The Catholic Diocese of Donkorkrom, which began as a Prefecture, was carved out from the Catholic Diocese of Koforidua on April 17, 2007, with Very Rev. Fr. Gabriel Edoe Kumordji, SVD, as its Prefect Apostolic.
In 2010, it was elevated to the status of an Apostolic Vicariate with Most Rev. Gabriel Edoe Kumordji, SVD, as the first Apostolic Vicar to be ordained for the area, and was succeeded by the Most Rev. John Alphonse Asiedu, SVD, in 2019.
Deaneries and Parishes
Donkorkrom Diocese has eight (8) Parishes on the Mainland and one Island Mission, which is also considered as a Parish for the Island Stations. These are divided into two Deaneries: Donkorkrom Deanery and Tease Deanery.
The Parishes under Donkorkrom Deanery include: St. Anthony Catholic Church at Amankwakrom, with about 222 faithful, St. Mary, Mother of God at Adeemmra (about 735 Christians), St. Francis Xavier Cathedral at Donkorkrom (about 1,331 faithful), Island Missions (Dwarf Island), with about 380 faithful and St. Therese of the Child Jesus Parish at Samanhyia (about 481 faithful).
Parishes under the Tease Deanery include: St. Joseph the Worker at Maame Krobo, with about 1,401 faithful, St. Joseph Freinademetz Catholic Church at Ekye-Amanfrom (about 516 faithful), St. Cecilia Catholic Church at Forifori (about 483 faithful) and St. Fidelis Parish at Tease (about 1341 faithful).
There are 77 Outstations in all, in the Vicariate, with about 70 Catechists.
Adeemmra, for a very long time, was the lone Parish in the whole of Afram Plains with only one Priest taking care of all the Stations, until it later gave birth to all the other parishes listed above.
Fr. Alfons Merten, SVD of blessed memory, was one time the Parish Priest of Adeemra, and he foresaw that Donkorkrom, being the District Capital, had potential for growth and expansion.
As at then, Donkorkrom was a very small community under Adeemra Parish, so he began some developmental work there, the fruit of which is the Alfons Merten’s Pastoral Centre, which today hosts people from all walks of life, for programmes and has become the Vicariate’s main Pastoral Centre for now.
Pastoral Agents
The Diocese currently has twenty-one (21) Priests: fourteen are Diocesans, including one Fidei Donum from Accra Archdiocese, 6 belong to the Divine Word Missionaries, and 1 Spiritan Priest. There is also one (1) Religious Brother (SVD) in the Diocese.
There are three (3) Female Religious Congregations in the Diocese, namely: Missionary Sisters, Servants of the Holy Spirit (SSpS), Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary (MSHR) and the Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Church (SMMC). Two are of international character, and one is of diocesan rite.
The total number of Catholics in the Diocese is about 6,890 as of 2024 Statistics.
Health / Education
Health-wise, Donkorkrom Diocese has two Health Centres: Holy Spirit Catholic Poly Clinic at Kwasi Fante and Holy Rosary Health Centre at Amankwakrom.
In terms of Education, there are several Catholic Basic Public Schools in Donkorkrom with only four Private Catholic Schools: St. Joseph School, Maame Krobo, Holy Rosary School, Asikasu-Donkorkrom, School of the Holy Spirit, Kwasi-Fante and Mater Ecclesiae at Kwaekese.
There are two Second Cycle Public-Catholic Schools in the Diocese: St. Fidelis Senior High Technical School at Tease and St. Mary’s Vocational / Technical School, Adeemmra.
The Reality of Afram Plains
The Afram Plains has an area of 5,040sqkm with a population of 218,235 as at 2010, based on a population growth rate of 3.6%. There are hundreds of villages on several Islands. It is estimated that as high as 80% of the population lives below the poverty line.
The depravity of the Afram Plains remains a major concern for its inhabitants. Migration in search of food and income to overcome conditions of poverty tends to disrupt the smooth development of the District and the evangelisation mission of the Church, thereby affecting the creation of parish communities and the growth of the Church.
The inhabitants of Afram Plains are cut off from the rest of the country due to limited physical access. The Diocese is virtually a peninsula that can be reached through two main routes: Ekye – Amanfrom or Kpando Torkor, both by water-crossing using a Ferry, referred to in the local parlance as the ‘ponthoon’ (a boat for carrying passengers, goods and vehicles) or an engine boat.
There is, however, a mainland road through Asante- Akim Agogo into Maame Krobo, which is not very motorable, especially in the rainy season. That stretch is also very isolated, with not so many settlements along the road, which makes it also a bit dangerous. Donkorkrom is bounded by three main rivers, namely the Volta, the Afram and the Obosum.
By Sr. Sylvie Lum Cho, MSHR (DEPSOCOM – Donkorkrom Diocese)
