Joseph Kwaku Afrifah-Agyekum
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Joseph Kwaku Afrifah-Agyekum | |
|---|---|
| Bishop of Koforidua, Ghana | |
| Church | Catholic Church |
| Archdiocese | Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Accra |
| See | Roman Catholic Diocese of Koforidua |
| Appointed | 12 April 2006 |
| Installed | 1 July 2006 |
| Predecessor | Gabriel Charles Palmer-Buckle |
| Successor | Incumbent |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 17 July 1983 by Dominic Kodwo Andoh |
| Consecration | 1 July 2006 by Gabriel Charles Palmer-Buckle |
| Rank | Bishop |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Joseph Kwaku Afrifah-Agyekum 22 December 1954 |
| Styles of Joseph Kwaku Afrifah-Agyekum | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Reference style | |
| Spoken style | His Lordship |
| Religious style | Bishop |
Joseph Kwaku Afrifah-Agyekum (born 22 Dember 1954) is a Ghanaian Catholic prelate who is the bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Koforidua in the Metropolitan Ecclesiastical Province of Accra in Ghana. He previously served as a priest of the same catholic diocese from 6 July 1992. He was appointed bishop by Pope Benedict XVI on 12 April 2006. He was consecrated as bishop and installed at Koforidua, Ghana on 1 July 2006.
He was born on 22 December 1954 at Akim Swedru, Eastern Region, Archdiocese of Accra, in Ghana. He studied philosophy and theology at seminary. He was ordained a priest on 17 July 1983 by Dominic Kodwo Andoh, Bishop of Accra. He holds a Doctorate in sacred liturgy awarded by the Pontifical Atheneum of St. Anselm, in Rome, where he studied from 1986 until 1992.[1][2][3]
Priest
Joseph Kwaku Afrifah-Agyekum was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Accra on 17 July 1983. When the Diocese of Koforidua was created on 6 July 1992, he was incardinated in the new diocese. He served as priest until 12 April 2006.[1][2][3]
As a priest, he served in various roles and locations including:[2][3]
- Assistant priest at Accra Cathedral from 1983 until 1985.
- Parish priest at St. Peter's Parish in Osu from 1985 until 1986.
- Studies at the Pontifical Atheneum of St. Anselm, in Rome leading to a doctorate in liturgy from 1986 until 1992.
- Parish priest at St. George's parish, Koforidua from 1992 until 1993.
- Administrator of the cathedral at Koforidua from 1992 until 1993.
- Vicar general of Koforidua Diocese from 1992 until 1993.
- Diocesan administrator of Koforidua Diocese from 2005 until 2006.[2][3]
Bishop
On 12 April 2006, Pope Benedict XVI appointed him bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Koforidua. He succeeded Gabriel Charles Palmer-Buckle who had been elevated to Archbishop of Accra the year before, on 30 March 2005.[1][2][3] He was consecrated bishop by Gabriel Charles Palmer-Buckle, Archbishop of Accra assisted by Peter Kwasi Sarpong, Archbishop of Kumasi and Gregory Eebolawola Kpiebaya, Archbishop of Tamale.[1] He encourages unity among the Catholics in his diocese.[4]
At their 4th General Assembly held in Abuja, from the 2 May 2022 until 9 May 2022, the Regional Episcopal Conference of West Africa (RECOWA), elected The Most Reverend Joseph Afrifah-Agyekum, Bishop of Koforidua Diocese in Ghana as the Vice President of the organization.[5] In May 2025 at the 5th General Assembly of RECOWA, the entire leadership was re-elected for another 3 years.[6]
