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Your Grace, Most Rev. Gabriel Justice Yaw Anokye, Metropolitan Archbishop of Kumasi, My Brother Priests, Religious Men and Women, Christ’s Faithful. I am greatly humbled and yet highly honoured to be chosen by the Holy Father, His Holiness Pope Francis as the Bishop elect of Obuasi Catholic Diocese. For over two years the seat of the bishop of Obuasi has been vacant as a result of the elevation and transfer of Most Rev. Gabriel Justice Anokye to the Archdiocese of Kumasi as its Metropolitan Archbishop.

The clergy, religious and the faithful of Obuasi including myself have been praying fervently and waiting anxiously for the appointment of a new bishop.
Although I am among the clergy of Obuasi, I never considered myself a candidate for this high office in the church with its accompanying great responsibilities. My whole desire is to be and remain a priest, a good but simple priest and joyfully serve God’s people; to constantly respond to God, do his will and serve his people in whatever capacity I am called upon. Believing then in the continuous guidance, presence and assistance of the Holy Spirit as the prophet Zachariah aptly puts it “not by might, not by power, but by my Spirit says the Lord of host” Zac 4:6; And listening and reflecting on the words of this song:

I the Lord of Sea and Rain, I have heard my people cry, all who dwell in dark and sin my hands will save, I who made the stars of night, I will make their darkness bright, who will bring my light to them, whom shall I send,?  I respond to the Lord by making the chorus of this song my answer: Here I am Lord, it is I Lord, I have heard you calling in the night, I will go Lord if you lead me, I will hold your people in my arms,

I know Obuasi Catholic Diocese yearns for a shepherd and if the Lord wants to shepherd his people through me, who am I to say no to Him? I humbly but with trepidation accept this calling and office of the bishop and pray to hold His people in my arm.

I ask you all clergy and religious, and lay faithful to constantly and continually pray for me as I do for you and together with your understanding and cooperation, Obuasi Catholic Diocese may continue to grow spiritually and physically.

I am ever grateful to the Lord for my priestly calling which has culminated in this new assignment; I am also eternally thankful to the Holy Father for the trust and confidence he has in me thus appointing me to this high and noble but demanding office of a bishop in the Holy Roman Catholic Church; Immense thanks to the indefatigable servant of God and the Church Most Rev. Gabriel Justice Yaw Anokye for holding the fort so bravely and in an able manner in the midst of other heavy responsibilities.  I greatly appreciate the wonderful support given by the college of consultors. I sincerely thank you clergy, religious and the laity all for your prayers patience and cooperation that has brought us this far.

May Mary the mother of our Lord and King bring all of us and the diocese of Obuasi to her son God Bless Us All. 
Thank You  

The Bishop

Most Rev. John Yaw Afoakwah was born at Mampamhwɛ, a village in Adansi in the Ashanti region of Ghana on 29th January 1955 from a Catholic family. Both parents are deceased. His father Opanin Kwame Afoakwah died when he was at the age of eleven.

The Cathedral

The Crest

In the right upper corner of the crest is the symbol of the Holy Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit who calls and equips us in ministry. This is evident throughout Sacred Scripture from Abraham, through Moses, to the prophets, John the Baptist, Mary, Paul, etc.

 

 

 

“Faith is to believe what you do not see.
The reward of faith is to see what you believe.” 

St. Augustine of Hippo