CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF SUNYANI

BRIEF HISTORY OF THE DIOCESE OF SUNYANI

On 30th March 1973 the creation or canonical erection of the Diocese of Sunyani was announced.  The then Diocese of Sunyani was co-extensive with Brong-Ahafo Region; and the then Msgr. James Kwadwo Owusu of Burma Camp was appointed as its Bishop.

There were only nine parishes (Atebubu, Techiman, Sunyani, Berekum, Dormaa Ahenkro, Kwasiboukrom, Sampa, Bechem and Mim) and the new Bishop had only two Diocesan priests to help him, namely, Msgr. Robert Mensah-Abrampah (who was appointed the Vicar General) and the Very Rev. Stephen Danso (now of Goaso Diocese).  Apart from the lack of both spiritual and social amenities of the vast area of the then Sunyani Diocese which the new, young, humble but energetic Bishop had to contend with, since no prophet finds acceptance in his own place, he also had to face pockets of rejection from certain elements of his own people. In spite of this sad situation he stood firm and moved ahead “in love and service for God and humanity”, his motto.  Fathers Nimo, Gyansa-Tabiri, Msgr. Joseph Marfo Gyimah were among the first priests to be ordained by the new Bishop.  Aided by the lay faithful and those few Diocesan priests, St. James Seminary became reality in 1978, and when the Bishop went out with the appeal “Come and help us in Sunyani” the missionary institutes of both men and women began coming in. Development projects also started springing up almost everywhere in the diocese.  The development project scattered throughout the Brong-Ahafo Region include:  Hospitals, boreholes, vocational schools, technical and farming institutes and other training centres that provide job skills for the youth.

The history of the Church in Sunyani Diocese in the past thirty two years has not been only the provision of schools, water and hospitals or the preaching of only the social gospels, a lot of attention has also been given to the spiritual development of the people.  The Diocese of Sunyani at the time of its creation had nine parishes of which two (Bechem and Mim) were in the Ahafo area.

On March 3, 1995 Atebubu, Jeji and Prang became part of the Konongo Mampong Diocese when it was created.

On November 8, 1997 the Goaso Diocese was carved out of the Sunyani Diocese.  At the time of the creation of Goaso Diocese, there were residential stations with twenty Diocesan priests including the Bishop for Ahafo area (Goaso Diocese).  The present Sunyani Diocese has twenty-three parishes and eleven rectorates.

On December 28, 2001, the Most Rev. Bishop James K. Owusu died tragically in a car accident at Kibi, when he was returning from Accra.

On December 29th, the College of Consultors unanimously elected the Very Rev. Fr. Seth Osei Agyemang, the then Vicar General, as the Diocesan Administrator.  Very Rev. Fr. Seth Agyemang successfully administered the Diocese of Sunyani until the 28th of June 2003, when our New Bishop, Most Rev. Matthew Gyamfi, was installed as the Second Bishop of  Sunyani.

The announcement of the New Bishop took place on Monday, April 14, 2003. On that day, the Apostolic Nuncio to Ghana, Most. Rev. George Kochery, after presiding at the Chrism Mass at the Christ the King Cathedral announced the election of Very Rev. Fr. Mathew Gyamfi as the Bishop – elect of Sunyani.  The announcement of the new Bishop was welcomed with tremendous applause.  There was great joy and jubilation.  Intensive preparations were immediately undertaken for the consecration and installation of the new Bishop.

On Saturday, June 28, 2003, exactly thirty years ago when the first Bishop of Sunyani was consecrated, Very Rev. Msgr. Matthew Gyamfi was ordained as the Second Bishop of Sunyani Diocese.

1.  NAME OF THE DIOCESE: Catholic Diocese of Sunyani.
     ECCLESIASTICAL PROVINCE: Kumasi

2.  NAME OF THE PRESENT BISHOP: Most Rev. Matthew Kwasi Gyamfi
            DATE OF BIRTH: 11th August 1957
            PLACE OF BIRTH: Wamanafo
            SECONDARY EDUCATION: St. Hubert Minor Seminary
            SEMINARY FORMATION: St. Peter’s Regional Seminary, Pedu
            DATE OF ORDINATION: 27TH July 1985
            1985-1987: Assistant Priest, Christ the King Cathedral
            1987: Chaplain and Teacher at the St. Joseph Tr. Training Coll. Bechem
1987: Matriculated at the University of Ghana, Legon to read Geography                 
           and Resource Development and History
1990: Graduated in 1990 with a Bachellor of Arts, First Class
1990-1991: Acting Parish priest at Kenyase, and Chaplain and Teacher at                 
                  Our Lady of Apostles (OLA) Girls’ Secondary School
1991-1993: Vice Rector, St. James Seminary, Abesim, Sunyani
1993: Further studies in Canada, earning a PhD in Geography, and a    
          Masters Degree in Education
1999- 2003:  Rector of St. James Seminary and Secondary School
2001: In addition to his office as Rector, he was appointed Chancellor of  
          the Diocese
April 14, 2003: The Holy Father, John Paul II, elected him Bishop of 
         Sunyani
June 28, 2003: Ordained as the Second Bishop of Sunyani Diocese

3.  NAME OF PREDECESSOR: Most Rev. James Kwadwo Owusu
 
4.   VICAR GENERAL: Rev. Msgr. George Kwame Kumi
 
5.   CHANCELLOR: Very Rev. Fr. Andrew Mensah Amankwaa

6.   FINANCIAL ADMINISTRATOR: Very Rev. Fr. Peter Dery