Ghanaian heads A.M.E. Zion Church Western West Africa
The Pastor in charge of the Aggrey Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church at Mamprobi in Accra, Rt Rev. Dr Hilliard Dela Dogbe, has been elected as the Resident Bishop of the Western West Africa Episcopal District of the AME Zion Church.
Advertisement
He was elected at the 50th Quadrennial Session of the Church in Greensboro, North Carolina, in the United States of America.
By his election, he becomes the first Ghanaian and the 104th bishop in the succession of Bishops of the A.M.E Zion Church.
The Western West Africa Episcopal District of the Church covers Ghana, Togo, Cote d’ Ivoire and Liberia.
Contest
Rt Rev. Dr Dogbe contested the position with two other Ghanaians: Rev. Dr Richard Gadzekpo and Rev. Dr Felix Ofosu. The new bishop polled 417 votes out of a total of 607 voters during the second round of voting. Rev. Dr Gadzekpo received 171 votes while Rev. Dr Ofosu had 19 votes. Rt Rev. Dr Dogbe would be inaugurated on October 2, 2016 in Accra.
The newly elected Bishop told the Daily Graphic that his election was historic since “this is the first time the general church worldwide has elected an indigenous resident person as a presiding bishop in the AME Zion Church”.
“I see it not only as a joy and privilege to be the one to be elected but also as an honour to the people of Ghana and Western West Africa that a son of the soil resident on this land has been elected to serve the Church of God and the people of this country,” he indicated.
Recognition
Asked what worked for him, he explained that his work in Ghana resonated with the delegates who recognised his services and sacrifices for the church.
Rt Rev. Dr Dogbe said one of his key goals was to focus on empowering young people, the congregation, the Clergy and lay leaders to be able to improve on themselves and the fortunes of the church.
He further promised to make the church visible, relevant and dynamic during his stewardship.
“I believe that this is not an individual effort. No individual can lead a group of people; you are assigned as a leader but nobody can work by himself,” Rt Rev. Dr Dogbe added.
