Pope Francis has appointed Very Rev Fr. Samuel Nkuah-Boateng as the new Bishop of the Diocese Wiawso in Ghana.
The appointment of Very Rev. Fr. Samuel Nkuah-Boateng as a bishop was announced in Accra on Thursday, January 26, 2023.
“His Holiness Pope Francis has appointed Rev. Father Samuel Nkuah-Boateng as the new Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Wiawso. His appointment is officially announced today, Thursday 26th January in the Vatican,” an official communication by the Apostolic Nunciature in Ghana said.
He succeeds Most Rev. Joseph Francis Kweku Essien, who has served in the position for the past 28 years. The appointment also means that Pope Francis has accepted Bishop Essien’s resignation from office and pastoral care of the Wiawso Diocese.
Bishop-elect Samuel Nkuah-Boateng was born on 6 May 1968 in Sefwi Bosomoiso. After attending Saint Teresa’s Minor Seminary in Elmina, in the archdiocese of Cape Coast, and Saint Peter’s Regional Major Seminary in Cape Coast, he obtained a bachelor’s degree in sociology and religious studies from the University of Ghana.
He was ordained a priest on 28 July for the diocese of Wiawso.
After ordination, he held the following offices: parish vicar of the Immaculate Conception, in Enchi (2001-2003); secretary to the bishop of Wiawso (2003-2008); rector of Saint Mary’s, in Dwinase (2003-2009); parish priest of Saint Augustine in Sefwi Boako (2009-2011)
He was director of the pastoral and formation centre (2009-2018); administrator of the Cathedral of Wiawso (2011-2018); and president of the Association of Diocesan Priests (2012-2020). He then studied for a master’s degree in pastoral ministry and religious education at the Catholic University of Ghana (2015-2017), and a master’s degree in philosophy (2018-2020).
Since 2009 he has been a member of the College of Consultors and the Presbyteral College; since 2020, he has served as director of the Centre for Pastoral Ministry and Formation, coordinator of the Diocesan Commission for Justice and Peace, and administrator of the Cathedral of Wiawso.