Ghanaian-born Prelate of Gaborone, Botswana, Frank Atese Nubuasah, SVD, who has been conferred with the title of Archbishop by the Pope, has called on the Priests, Religious and lay faithful all over the world especially in his Diocese to continue praying for him as a servant of the Church.
“I am grateful to all of you who have tried to reach out to me. Kindly continue to pray for me to be faithful in service,” he said on his Facebook wall minutes after his conferment of the title Archbishop by Pope Francis on July 5, 2021.
The Holy Father’s appointment was done “ad personam” and with this, the Ghanaian Divine Word Missionary Prelate becomes in effect His Grace Frank Nubuasah, Bishop of the Diocese of Gaborone.
The rank of “Archbishop ad personam” is conferred on some Bishops who are not Bishops of an Archdiocese. They hold the rank not because of the See that they head but because it has been granted to them personally (ad personam). Thus, the Diocese of Gaborone remains a Diocese.)
Asking for prayers on his Facebook page, Archbishop Nubuasah said, “Titles are not the essential things in life but the service we provide,” adding, “We can all smile and say, “to God, be the Glory.”
In an answer to a question posed by Joshua Elikplim, a Ghanaian youth currently studying in UK in relation to Archbishop “ad personam”, the Most Rev. Joseph Osei-Bonsu, Bishop of Konongo-Mampong said on his whatsapp page, “The rank of Archbishop can also be conferred on a Bishop who is not the Archbishop of an Archdiocese.”
According to him in the July 6 answer, “such persons hold the rank not because of the Diocese that they head but because it has been granted to them personally (ad personam).”
Citing an example, Bishop Osei-Bonsu said, “Gianfranco Gardin, appointed Archbishop-Bishop of the Diocese of Treviso on 21 December 2009. The title borne by the successor of such an Archbishop-Bishop is merely that of Bishop of the Diocese, unless he also is granted the personal title of Archbishop.”
Another example the Local Ordinary of the Konongo-Mampong gave was “Arthur Roche, who was Bishop of Leeds until his appointment as Secretary of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments in Rome. Roche remained a Bishop by virtue of his position as Bishop Emeritus of Leeds; instead of being transferred to a different titular Archdiocese, he was appointed as an Archbishop ad personam.”
“On 11 February 2021, Pope Francis transferred Bishop Luiz Fernando Lisboa, a Brazilian-born member of the Congregation of the Passion of Jesus Christ (Passionists) who had been serving as Bishop of Mozambique’s Pemba Diocese, to the Brazilian Diocese of Cachoeiro de Itapemirim. Pope Francis also elevated him to “Archbishop ad personam” of that diocese.”
He noted that “In like manner, Bishop Frank Nubuasah, who comes from Ghana but is the Bishop of the Diocese of Gaborone in Botswana, has been elevated in rank to become an Archbishop.
He (Nubuasah) becomes in effect Archbishop Frank Nubuasah, Bishop of the Diocese of Gaborone. This appointment made by Pope Francis is one of “Archbishop ad personam”. Thus, the Diocese of Gaborone remains a Diocese.
“Many of the titular Sees to which Nuncios and heads of departments of the Roman Curia who are not Cardinals are assigned are not of the rank of Archdiocese. In such cases, the person who is appointed to such a position is given the personal title of Archbishop (ad personam). He is usually referred to as Archbishop of the see, not as its Archbishop-Bishop,” Bishop Osei-Bonsu added.
Bishop Frank Atese Nubuasah, SVD was born the fourth child of Mr. Joseph Nubuasah and Mrs. Dora Nubuasah on June 7, 1949 in Likpe Agbozome a village in Ghana’s Volta Region, now in the newly created Oti Region.
The family comprises of four girls and four boys. The Archbishop is the first boy, of his four sisters, one is a Religious Sister of the local diocesan Congregation of the Handmaids of the Divine Redeemer (HDR) and she is a nurse by profession.
Frank Nubuasah was educated in his home village and Kadjebi where he did his secondary education. After working for a year, he decided to join the Divine Word Missionaries (SVD).
Completing his seminary formation at the Regional Seminary in Tamale, Ghana, he was ordained on July 26, 1980. Together with another priest from his parish, they were the first priests of the parish.
Soon after ordination, he was missioned to Botswana as one of the initial group of four SVD missionaries to start working in the country. After language learning, he spent the next eight years in Maun trying to establish the church.
He was later recalled to Ghana to assist in the formation of novices. He did two years of post-graduate course at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh earning the Masters of Arts Degree.
Returning home, he was Master of novices until he was appointed Bishop of the newly created Apostolic Vicariate of Francistown. Archbishop Nubuasah was appointed Vicar Apostolic of Francistown and Titular Bishop of Pauzera on June 27, 1998. He was ordained Bishop on November 7, 1998. On August 9, 2017, he was appointed Apostolic Administrator of Gaborone Diocese and October 2, 2017, he was appointed Bishop of Francistown.
On June 6, 2019, he was appointed Bishop of Gaborone and installed on August 17, 2019 and on July 5, 2021, he was appointed Archbishop (Personal Title) of Gaborone, Botswana.
