Wiawso Anglican Diocese marks 5th anniversary

Wiawso (W/R), Nov. 3, GNA - The Wiawso Diocese of the Anglican Church, Province of West Africa, has climaxed the 5th Anniversary of its creation with the dedication of a Bishop's House Complex.

The complex comprises 23 bedrooms, a Chapel and Vestry, Reception and Entrance Lounge, Executive Hall and Living Room.

The diocese was carved out from the Diocese of Sekondi in the Western Region on February 18, 2006.

Right Reverend Abraham Kobina Ackah, Bishop of Wiawso said so far the church has spent more than GH₵ 500,000 on the project within eight months and called on the congregation to give generously for its completion to serve as a befitting monument for the anniversary celebration.

“It is expected that individuals and groups will adopt the rooms by furnishing them at an estimated cost of GH₵ 2,000 each. We will inscribe their names at the entrance of the adopted rooms,” he explained.

He commended the Diocese of Toronto particularly Archbishop Colin Johnson and other bishops of the diocese for donating 0,000 towards the project.

“We also want to mention other donations from our friends in the US, Britain and the Diocese of Niger Delta, North-Nigeria,” he said.

Rt Rev Ackah noted: “At five, we are still young comparatively…but as we look back to when and how we started and where the Lord has taken us to at this time as a diocese, in spite of the numerous challenges, we think it is proper and fitting…to celebrate and give thanks.”

A minute's silence was observed in honour of the late Mr Kojo Mensah, a trustee of the Anglican Diocese of Cape Coast who together with Dr George Dawson-Amoah, Director of Ghana Cement Company and Sir Chief Polycarp Nduonteng, Lay Commissary, laid the foundation stone of the Bishop's Complex in February, 2011.

The family of Mr Mensah, redeemed the pledge of the deceased trustee, who committed GH₵5,000 towards the project before his death.

Some of the activities organised as part of the anniversary included a football gala and a brass band competition.

The gala competition was won by the St Mathew branch of the church at Awaso while the brass band contest was coveted by Puakrom.

Rt Rev Daniel Allotey, Bishop of Cape Coast, Rt Rev Dawson-Amoah, Bishop of Dunkwa and Rt Rev Joseph Francis Kweku Essien, Catholic Bishop of Sefwi, Rt Rev Philip Poole, Bishop of Toronto, who represented Archbishop Johnson and Prof Christopher Ameyaw-Akumfi, Member of Parliament for Techiman North, graced the occasion.

The programme was chaired by Mr Michael Aidoo, Director, Cane Basket Hotel in Sefwi Awaso. He made a donation of $ 10,000 towards the Bishop's complex.

Rt Rev Allotey blessed the house complex.
The Church of the Province of West Africa is a province of the Anglican Communion, covering 15 Sees in West Africa, specifically Ghana, The Gambia, Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.

The Dioceses are Accra, Cape-Coast, Koforidua, Kumasi, Sekondi, Sunyani, Tamale, Wiawso and Dunkwa (Ghana), Bo (Sierra Leone), Cameroon (Region Missionaire), Freetown (Sierra Leone),The Gambia, Guinea, and Liberia.

The Wiawso Diocese has links with the Diocese of Toronto, Canada, the Diocese of New York, and the Diocese of Los Angeles in the USA as well as the Diocese of Portsmouth in the UK.

Five Parishes in the Diocese of Wiawso, through the Bishop Waltham Deanery are also linked with some Dioceses abroad.

It is the 9th Diocese in Ghana, with the Consecration and Enthronement of its first Bishop, Rt Rev Ackah.

The Diocese is co-terminus with the five political districts of: Bibiani-Anhwiaso-Bekwai; Wiawso; Juaboso; Bia and Akontombra.

GNA