The Catholic Church leader went on to emphasize the importance of unity and collaboration between members of the Clergy and their Local Ordinary.
“I wish to underline that the Bishop cannot exercise all his functions expected of him effectively if the flock he is leading is divided. It is therefore incumbent on everybody in the Diocese, especially the Priests, to foster, promote, and uphold unity in the Diocese,” he said.
Bishop Angkyier added, “Any Priests, Religious or lay faithful or any groups of people in the Diocese who sow seeds of disunity and discord are doing great harm to the body of Christ.”
He asked the Bishop-elect not to “lord it over those assigned to you, but be an example to the flock.”
“May you experience the abundance of God's blessings through your ministry of shepherding the people of God of this Diocese,” Bishop Angkyier implored.
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In his maiden speech as Local Ordinary of Wa Diocese, Bishop Bomansaan thanked the Holy Father Pope Francis for the confidence in him and all who have supported him in prayers.
He promised “total and unparalleled loyalty and obedience” to the Catholic Church and pledged to “cooperate and collaborate with the Clergy, Religious, and lay faithful to achieve further growth in Wa Diocese.”
“I bring myself totally and wholeheartedly to serve the people and to be able to listen to them, and to work with them,” he said.
On their part, members of the Ghana Catholic Bishops Conference (GCBC) assured Bishop Bomansaan of their “unflinching support.”
“We offer you our unflinching support throughout your tenure as Chief Shepherd of this particular Church of Ghana,” GCBC President, Bishop Matthew Kwasi Gyamfi of Ghana's Catholic Diocese of Sunyani, said in a goodwill message.
Bishop Gyamfi said GCBC members were “confident” that the new Bishop of Wa would make an “invaluable contribution to the conference and bring new insights to its work and its discussions.”
“As your senior brothers in the episcopacy, we are confident that you will lead the people of God with wisdom, compassion, and unwavering faith,” he said, and added, “We are particularly eager to collaborate with you in addressing the challenges and opportunities facing our Church at this time in our country’s life.”
The GCBC President appealed to the Clergy, women and men Religious, and laity in Wa Diocese to assist and support their new Bishop, and urged them to see themselves as all members of one family of God.
“May you enjoy the collaboration of your Priests and Christ’s faithful entrusted to your care as you follow the Lord’s example of servant leadership,” he said.
Bishop Bomansaan becomes the 5th Local Ordinary of the Ghanaian Diocese, which measures 18,478 square kilometers with a population of 422,000 Catholics, who represent 43.7.9 percent of the total population in the Diocese, according to 2022 statistics.
Erected in November 1959 and elevated to a Diocese in May 1977, Wa Diocese is part of the Metropolitan See of Tamale in the West African nation.
Jude Atemanke is a Cameroonian journalist with a passion for Catholic Church communication. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of Buea in Cameroon. Currently, Jude serves as a journalist for ACI Africa.
