Rev. Msgr. Simon Kofi Appiah, Bishop-Elect of the Jasikan Diocese, was ordained and installed in a grand ceremony attended by over two thousand people made up of bishops, clergy, religious, lay faithful, and friends of ordanandi from local and foreign walks of life at the St. Peter Claver Cathedral park on Saturday.
The Consecration team was made up of Most Rev. Julien Kaboré, the Apostolic Nuncio to Ghana as the Principal Consecrator, Most Rev. Gabriel Akwasi Ababio Mante as the First Consecrator, with Most Rev. Dennis Kofi Agbenyadzi, SMA – Bishop of Berberati, Central African Republic as the Second Consecrator.
Most Rev. Matthew Gyamfi, Bishop of Sunyani Diocese and the President of the Ghana Catholic Bishops Conference (GCBC), based his homily on the motto of the ordinandi: – DEUS CARITAS EST – God is Love (1 John 4:7) and on the day’s readings.
Bishop Gyamfi stated that the call to love seems so easy, but quite challenging when you begin to meet different people you are to work with, as some will equally reject your love.
He advised that, despite such challenges, the ordinand should love people from all walks of life and love across ethnic barriers, love those who will write unkind letters to you, those you see as a threat to your episcopal work, love the poor, refugees, Catholics, non-Catholics, Muslims, traditionalists, and LGBTIQs.
“When you are faced with the challenges of those you love, turn to Jesus, for you need faith and truth to be able to cooperate with human failure, he encouraged. Do not forget that many priests are discouraged and are uncertain; they will need your intensive attention and look up to you for a solution, so you need to give them the needed attention,” he stated.
Bishop Gyamfi asked the priests and religious of Jasikan Diocese to love and respect their new bishop, if he is obliged to love them and cannot reject them.
He told the priests to always encourage the lay faithful to pray for the bishop.
To the lay faithful, the homilist said, your bishop needs you to perform your required duties and responsibilities diligently for the mission of Christ to be accomplished. Coddle your bishop with understanding and be hospitable, especially in difficult times.
Bishop Gyamfi also encouraged Msgr. Appiah to take courage from the patron saint of the diocese, St. Peter Claver. “Simon Peter, you are a rock chosen to build the diocese of Jasikan. The Lord knows the weaknesses of Peter but chose him to lead the church; do your best without looking back,” he admonished. He assured the ordinand of the support from GCBC, clergy, and lay faithful to take him through his episcopal work. Open your heart to the power and anointing of the Spirit of God and allow God, who began the work, to bring it to fruition.
When Msgr. Appiah was called to be ordained. Rev. Fr. Christian Adu of the Jasikan diocese read the BULL. The content stated that the Holy Father Pope Leo XIV elected Msgr. Appiah, because of his spiritual life, background of charity, and active pastoral engagement on 23rd December, 2025.
The Apostolic Nuncio to Ghana led other arch/bishops to lay hands upon the ordinandi after the invocation of the Holy Spirit and then said the prayer of consecration. The ordinandi were then anointed with holy chrism and were presented with the book of the gospel, apostolic ring, red cap, mitre, and the Crosier (Staff).
The Nuncio, assisted by the co-consecrators, then officially installed the newly ordained Bishop Simon Kofi Appiah as the new substantive bishop of the Jasikan diocese.
Goodwill messages were delivered by Most Rev. Emmanuel Kofi Fianu SVD on behalf of the GCBC, Hon. Elvis Afriyie Ankrah on behalf of His Excellency John Dramani Mahama, wishing Bishop Appiah wisdom, strength, and divine guidance, Prof. Kuupole, former Vice Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast, asking the new bishop to assume his new role with the grace received to foster peace and unity within the diocese and beyond, Hon. John Kwadwo Gyapong – the Oti Regional Minister, reminding him to be like his predecessor in promoting peace in the region.
In his message, Archbishop Julien Kaboré reminded the new Bishop: “The Church teaches that the Bishop is the visible principle and foundation of unity in his particular Church (cf. Lumen Gentium, 23). In a particular way, may your relationship with your presbyterate be one of paternal closeness, fraternity, and mutual trust, so that, as the Church wisely exhorts, no priest may ever feel distant from the heart of his Bishop (cf. Apostolorum Successores, 63).”
He then wished him, saying: “May your ministry be marked by a Spirit of peace and communion, fostering ever deeper bonds of unity among the clergy, religious, and lay faithful.”
Most Rev. Gabriel Akwasi Ababio Mante, the outgoing Bishop, in a welcome address before the episcopal ordination, called on Bishop-Elect Appiah to open his heart to the grace of God to be strengthened and endowed with wisdom and love & to be rooted in Christ, guided by the Holy Spirit. He then pledged his support and collaboration to the Bishop-Elect.
Newly Ordained Bishop Simon Kofi Appiah thanked God for the grace bestowed on him, the Apostolic Nuncio for the consoling and encouraging words that calmed his fear for the task ahead, Bishop Emeritus Mante for the solid foundation built for the past 31 years, and was hopeful that, with the Lord as a true sign, God will continue to move among his people. Bishop Appiah assured the faithful of the Jasikan diocese that God, through his unmeasured love, will journey with all challenges of the youth, the elderly, the needy, and all those who matter.
The diocesan mass choir, bishop emeritus, arch/bishops, including Most Rev. Mose Buhru of the Atakpame diocese, Catholics and non-Catholics gave a colourful atmosphere to the celebration.
The new Bishop was welcomed to the Jasikan township at the roundabout with a fanfare and shouts of great joy. He was then taken to the palace of Nana Edje Tete Kpase Brantuo VII, the Chief of Jasikan as well as the Adontenhene of Buem traditional area, in the company of chiefs and queen mothers within the Adonten traditional area. The traditional leadership exchanged greetings with the church leadership and the lay faithful. Bishop Mante then introduced the Bishop-Elect to them, and they gave him a resounding welcome.
The procession continued to the St. Peter Claver Cathedral, where a red carpet rolled from the entrance of the yard gate onto the altar in the Cathedral for the Bishop-Elect to walk on.
Before the benediction in the Cathedral, the Vicar General, Very Rev. Fr. Joseph Nsiah, on behalf of the church in the Jasikan diocese, in his welcome speech, assured Bishop-Elect with the words “the Hosannas on Palm Sunday and then Crucify him on Good Friday.” “So see the enthusiasm of the people around you as a sure sign of the love and pledge of support for you,” he exclaimed.
With great joy, Bishop-Elect blessed the crowd with the Blessed Sacrament.
By Cephas K.N. Afornu
