Emmanuel Kofi Fianu appointed Catholic Bishop of Ho
Most Reverend Emmanuel Kofi Fianu, a native of Tegbi in the Keta Municipality, was on Saturday ordained new Catholic Bishop of Ho.
Most Rev. Fianu, 56, was the immediate past Secretary General of the Society of the Divine Word (SVD) of the Church and succeeded Most Reverend Francis A.K. Lodonu who is on retirement after serving nearly 50 years as Bishop of Ho.
The ordination was supervised by Peter Cardinal Appiah Turkson, President of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, and attracted catholic bishops from the sub-region and traditional leaders in the Volta Region, including Togbe Afede XIV, President of the Regional House of Chiefs.
In a sermon, Most Rev Charles G. Palmer-Buckle, Archbishop of Accra, urged Catholic priests and bishops to endeavour to be good shepherds.
“We are responsible for the apostolic duties of the Church and must be identified with the sheep. We must have the smell of the sheep,” he said.
Archbishop Palmer-Buckle asked members of the Catholic faith to love one another.
President John Dramani Mahama, in a speech read on his behalf advised the Church to help government fight corruption and other social vices, because that is their “spiritual, communal and national duty.”
The President, through the Regional Coordinating Council donated GH¢10,000 to the Diocese.
Most Rev. Joseph Osei-Bonsu, President of Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference welcomed Bishop Fianu to the body and wished Bishop Lodonu, “happy and peaceful” retirement.
Bishop Fianu said he accepted his election as a “Ministry of the Church” and said as a shepherd, he hopes to enhance the “life and mission of the local church…thus bringing the world church to the doors of the local church”.
Bishop Fianu was ordained as priest on July 14, 1985 and worked in Ghana, Togo, and Rome.
In December 2006, he was appointed Secretary General of SVD in Rome, a post he held until his election as Bishop of Ho.
His predecessor, Bishop Lodonu is credited with the training of more priests in the diocese and building schools and hospitals for the Church.
Present at the ordination were Mr Doe Adzaho,Speaker of Parliament, Mr Johny Osei Kofi, Deputy Chief of Staff, Mr Alex Segbefia, Minister of Health and Madam Helen Adzoa Ntoso, Regional Minister.
Source: GNA